Chickpea facilitates phosphorus uptake by intercropped wheat from an organic phosphorus source

Pot experiments were conducted to investigate interspecific complementation in utilization of phytate and FePO₄ by plants in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) intercropping under sterile and non-sterile conditions. The pots were separated into two compartments by either a solid root barrier to eliminate root contact and solute movement, by a nylon mesh (30 M) to prevent root contact but permit solute exchange, or not separated between the compartments. Wheat plants were grown in one compartment and chickpea in the other. Two P sources were tested at 60 mg P kg^–1 soil (sodium phytate or FePO₄). Under non-sterile conditions, the biomass of wheat was significantly greater when the roots were intermingled with chickpea than when the roots were separated from chickpea roots by a solid root barrier or nylon mesh. When phytate–P was applied, P concentrations in wheat (2.9 g kg^–1 in shoots and 1.4 g kg^–1 in roots) without root barrier between the two species were higher than those in the treatments with nylon mesh or with the solid root barrier separation (1.9 g kg^–1 in shoots and 1.0 g kg^–1 in roots). In contrast, P concentrations in wheat supplied with FePO₄ were similar between the root separation treatments. There was no significant difference in P uptake by chickpea between the P sources or between the root separation treatments, except that P uptake was greater in the phytate treatment with the root barrier. Total P uptake from phytate was increased by 25% without root separation compared to the root separation treatments. Under sterile conditions and supply of phytate–P, the biomass of wheat was doubled when the roots were intermingled with chickpea and increased by a third with the nylon mesh separation compared to that with the solid root barrier. Biomass production in wheat at various treatments correlated with P concentration in shoot. Biomass production and P concentration in chickpea were unaffected by root separation. Total P uptake by plants was 68% greater with root intermingling and 37% greater with nylon mesh separation than that with the solid root barrier. The results suggest that chickpea roots facilitate P utilization from the organic P by wheat.     

Doubled haploids of wheat from wheat x maize crosses:genotypic influence, fertility and inheritance of the 1BL-1RS chromosome

The wheat x maize cross as a technique for haploid induction in wheat was evaluated in a replicated block design comprising 18 wheat F₁ hybrids and five Zea mays L. parents. Haploid plants were regenerated at an average of 9.1 (4.4–14.7) plants per 100 florets processed. Genotypic differences for haploid production efficiency were recorded for both wheat and Zea mays L. Interaction between parents was significant for number of plants/100 florets. All 610 of the 1,703 regenerated plantlets that were analyzed by flow cytometry were haploid. At maturity, 70% (60–81 %) of the colchicinetreated haploid plants were fertile, but the frequency of fertile and sterile plants was not consistent over the wheat hybrids from which they were derived. Flow cytometry performed using the first tiller which arose following colchicine treatment enabled prediction of fertility. The 1BL-1RS chromosome was found at the expected ratios in the F₂ and in the haploid progenies produced through the wheat x maize cross but deviated from the 11 ratio in the haploid progenies produced by anther culture.     

Fungi of wheat and broad-bean straw composts

13 thermophilic genera and 19 species in addition to one variety of each of M. pulchella and H. grisea were collected from wheat and broad-bean straw composts at 45 °C. In wheat and broad-bean, all thermophilic fungi were completely checked between 4–9 days, and 1–8 days composting when the temperature ranged between 58° and 67 °C, and 58 ° and 70 °C respectively, and reappeared, represented by P. duponti, M. albomyces, T. lanuginosus and S. thermophile, after 9 or 10 days composting when the temperature decreased to 51.5° –54 ° C. Wheat and broad-bean straw composts were analysed biochemically to follow the changes in ethanol and diastase soluble, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin fractions during composting.     

Influence of paddy and corn in different rotations on wheat yield,nutrient removal and soil properties

Summary In a 3 year field study, the effect of two rotations, paddy (Oryza sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), mung (Phaseolus aureus L.) and corn (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), mung (Phaseolus aureus L.) on wheat yield and chemical, physical and biological properties of soil was evaluated. Grain yield of the wheat sown after paddy during 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75 was lesser by 0,300 and 390 kg/ha respectively than that of the wheat following corn. The reduction in the yield of wheat was attributed to relatively higher NPK removal by paddy, greater immobilization of N applied to wheat and deterioration of soil physical conditions in the paddy field. Total NPK removal by paddy average 131 kg/ha more than that by corn. Sharp increase in bacterial population of soil during early growth of wheat that followed paddy and the concurrent less available N in soil and low N content in wheat plants suggested that the N applied to wheat was immobilised to organic form. The increase in soil bulk density and particle dispersion ratio and decrease in water storage in deeper soil layers in the paddy field probably restricted the root proliferation and growth of wheat.     

A family of endosperm globulins encoded by genes located in group 1 chromosomes of wheat and related species

Summary A new group of proteins soluble in salt solutions and organic solvents (70% ethanol and chloroform-methanol mixtures), but not in water, has been isolated from wheat and rye endosperm. The molecular weights (23–26 kDa) and amino acid compositions of the different fractions characterized suggest a high degree of homology among the major components of the fractions in wheat and rye. Compensating nulli-tetrasomic and ditelosomic lines of hexaploid wheat have been analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and genes for these proteins have been assigned to the short arms of chromosomes 1 A, 1 B and 1 D. A similar analysis of Triticum aestivum/Secale cereale and T. aestivum/Agropyron elongatum addition and substitution lines has shown that genes for the corresponding globulins are located in the short arms of group 1 chromosomes of these species.     

Fungi of wheat and broad-bean straw composts II. Thermophilic fungi

Thirteen thermohilic genera and 19 species in addition to one variety of each of M. pulchella and H.grisea were collected from wheat and broad-bean straw composts at 45 °C. In wheat and broad-bean, all thermophilic fungi were completely checked between 4–9 days, and 1–8 days composting when the temperature ranged between 58 ° and 67 °C, and 58 ° and 70 °C respectively, and reappeared, represented by P. duponti, M. albomyces, T. lanuginosus and S. thermophile, after 9 or 10 days composting when the temperature decreased to 51.5 °–54 °C. Wheat and broad-bean straw composts were analyzed biochemically to follow the changes in ethanol and diastase soluble, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin fractions during composting.     

Silicon accumulation and water uptake by wheat

Silicon (Si) content in cereal plants and soil-Si solubility may be used to estimate transpiration, assuming passive Si uptake. The hypothesis for passive-Si uptake by the transpiration stream was tested in wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Stephens) grown on the irrigated Portneuf silt loam soil (Durixerollic calciorthid) near Twin Falls, Idaho. Treatments consisted of 5 levels of plant-available soil water ranging from 244 to 776 mm provided primarily by a line-source sprinkler irrigation system. Evapotranspiration was determined by the water-balance method and water uptake was calculated from evapotranspiration, shading, and duration of wet-surface soil. Water extraction occurred from the 0 to 150-cm zone in which equilibrium Si solubility (20°C) was 15 mg Si L^–1 in the A_p and B_k (0–58 cm depth) and 23 mg Si L^–1 in the B_kq (58–165 cm depth).At plant maturity, total Si uptake ranged from 10 to 32 g m^–2, above-ground dry matter from 1200 to 2100 g m^–2 and transpiration from 227 to 546 kg m^–2. Silicon uptake was correlated with transpiration (Si_up=–07+06T, r²=0.85) and dry matter yield with evapotranspiration (Y=119+303ET, r²=0.96). Actual Si uptake was 2.4 to 4.7 times that accounted for by passive uptake, supporting designation of wheat as a Si accumulator. The ratio of Si uptake to water uptake increased with soil moisture. The confirmation of active Si uptake precludes using Si uptake to estimate water use by wheat.     

Purification and properties of a novel raw starch degrading-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase from Klebsiella pneumoniae AS- 22

A novel raw starch degrading α-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase; E.C. 2.4.1.19), produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae AS-22, was purified to homogeneity by ultrafiltration, affinity and gel filtration chromatography. The specific cyclization activity of the pure enzyme preparation was 523 U/mg of protein. No hydrolysis activity was detected when soluble starch was used as the substrate. The molecular weight of the pure protein was estimated to be 75 kDa with SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. The isoelectric point of the pure enzyme was 7.3. The enzyme was most active in the pH range 5.5–9.0 whereas it was most stable in the pH range 6–9. The CGTase was most active in the temperature range 35–50°C. This CGTase is inherently temperature labile and rapidly loses activity above 30°C. However, presence of soluble starch and calcium chloride improved the temperature stability of the enzyme up to 40°C. In presence of 30% (v/v) glycerol, this enzyme was almost 100% stable at 30°C for a month. The K_m and k_cat values for the pure enzyme were 1.35 mg ml⁻¹ and 249 μM mg⁻¹ min⁻¹, respectively, with soluble starch as the substrate. The enzyme predominantly produced α-cyclodextrin without addition of any complexing agents. The conditions employed for maximum α-cyclodextrin production were 100 g l⁻¹ gelatinized soluble starch or 125 g l⁻¹ raw wheat starch at an enzyme concentration of 10 U g⁻¹ of starch. The α:β:γ-cyclodextrins were produced in the ratios of 81:12:7 and 89:9:2 from gelatinized soluble starch and raw wheat starch, respectively.     

Microgravity does not alter plant stand gas exchange of wheat at moderate light levels and saturating CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentration

Plant stand gas exchange was measured nondestructively in microgravity during the Photosynthesis Experiment Subsystem Testing and Operations experiment conducted onboard the International Space Station. Rates of evapotranspiration and photosynthesis measured in space were compared with ground controls to determine if microgravity directly affects whole-stand gas exchange of Triticum aestivum. During six 21-day experiment cycles, evapotranspiration was determined continuously from water addition rates to the nutrient delivery system, and photosynthesis was determined from the amount of CO₂ added to maintain the chamber CO₂ concentration setpoint. Plant stand evapotranspiration, net photosynthesis, and water use efficiency were not altered by microgravity. Although leaf area was significantly reduced in microgravity-grown plants compared to ground control plants, leaf area distribution was not affected enough to cause significant differences in the amounts of light absorbed by the flight and ground control plant stands. Microgravity also did not affect the response of evapotranspiration to changes in chamber vapor pressure difference of 12-day-old wheat plant stands. These results suggest that gravity naïve plants grown at moderate light levels (300 mol m^–2 s^–1) behave the same as ground control plants. This implies that future plant-based regenerative life support systems can be sized using 1 g data because water purification and food production rates operate at nearly the same rates as in 1 g at moderate light levels. However, it remains to be verified whether the present results are reproducible in plants grown under stronger light levels.     

Efficiency of recycled nitrogen from residues of maize (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max) and moong (Vigna radiata) on wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain yield

Summary A laboratory incubation experiment followed by a greenhouse experiment was made in a silty clay loam at Pantnagar, India, to recycle plant utilizable N from crop residues such as maize stubble, soybean hay andmoong straw. The beneficial effect of recycled N was tested by a wheat crop. Soybean hay yielded the most NO₃–N upon mineralization and also gave the highest wheat grain yield. Maize stubble mineralized the least NO₃–N and gave the lowest grain yield.Moong straw occupied an intermediate position. An intervening period of 30–45 days would be required for the residues in question to release plant utilizable NO₃–N in sufficient quantities. From a practical view point, soybean hay appears to be an ideal choice of a residue capable of providing sufficient supplemental N for a succeding wheat crop and can be easily fitted into the prevalent cropping sequence.     

Diversity in amylopectin structure, thermal and pasting properties of starches from wheat varieties/lines

Structural, thermal and pasting diversity of starches from Indian and exotic lines of wheat was studied. Majority of the starches showed amylose content ranging between 22% and 28%. Endotherm temperatures (T_o, T_p and T_c) of the starches showed a range between 56–57, 60 –61 and 65.5–66.5 °C, respectively. Exotherms with T_p between 87.0 and 88.2 °C were observed during cooling of heated starches, indicating the presence of amylose–lipid complexes. Exotherm temperatures were negatively correlated to swelling power. Amylopectin unit chains with different degree of polymerization (DP) were observed to be associated with pasting temperature, setback and thermal (endothermic T_o, T_p, and T_c) parameters. Amylopectin unit chains of DP 13–24 showed positive relationship with endothermic T_o, T_p and T_c. Pasting temperature showed positive correlation with short chains (DP 6–12) while negative correlation with medium chain (DP 13–24) amylopectins. Setback was positively correlated to DP 16–18 and negatively to DSC amylose–lipid parameters.     

Cloning and characterization of a gene encoding wheat starch synthase I

 A cDNA clone, and a corresponding genomic DNA clone, containing full-length sequences encoding wheat starch synthase I, were isolated from a cDNA library of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) and a genomic DNA library of Triticum tauschii, respectively. The entire sequence of the starch synthase-I cDNA (wSSI-cDNA) is 2591 bp, and it encodes a polypeptide of 647 amino-acid residues that shows 81% and 61% identity to the amino-acid sequences of SSI-type starch synthases from rice and potato, respectively. In addition, the putative N-terminal amino-acid sequence of the encoded protein is identical to that determined for the N-terminal region of the 75-kDa starch synthase present in the starch granule of hexaploid wheat. Two prominent starch synthase activities were demonstrated to be present in the soluble fraction of wheat endosperm by activity staining of the non-denaturing PAGE gels. The most anodal band (wheat SSI) shows the highest staining intensity and results from the activity of a 75-kDa protein. The wheat SSI mRNA is expressed in the endosperm during the early to mid stages of wheat grain development but was not detected by Northern blotting in other tissues from the wheat plant. The gene encoding the wheat SSI (SsI-D1) consists of 15 exons and 14 introns, similar to the structure of the rice starch synthase-I gene. While the exons of wheat and rice are virtually identical in length, the wheat SsI-D1 gene has longer sequences in introns 1, 2, 4 and 10, and shorter sequences in introns 6, 11 and 14, than the corresponding rice gene. Received: 5 June 1998 / Accepted: 29 September 1998     

Mapping a resistance gene in wheat cultivar Yangfu 9311 to yellow mosaic virus, using microsatellite markers

Wheat yellow mosaic disease, which is caused by wheat yellow mosaic bymovirus (WYMV) and transmitted by soil-borne fungus, results in severe damage on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in China. For development of resistant cultivars to reduce wheat yield losses due to wheat yellow mosaic disease, resistance test and genetic analysis indicated that a single dominant gene in wheat cultivar Yangfu 9311 contributed to the resistance. Bulk segregant analysis was used to identify microsatellite markers linked to the resistance gene in an F₂ population derived from the cross Yangfu 9311 (resistant) × Yangmai 10 (susceptible). Microsatellite markers Xwmc41, Xwmc181, Xpsp3039, and Xgwm349 were co-dominantly or dominantly linked with the gene responsible for WYMV resistance at a distance of 8.1–11.6 cM. Based on the wheat microsatellite consensus map and the results from amplification of the cultivar Chinese Spring nulli-tetrasomic stocks, the resistance gene to wheat yellow mosaic disease derived from Yangfu 9311, temporarily named as YmYF, was thus mapped on the long arm of chromosome 2D (2DL).     

On the concentration of acetic acid in straw and soil

Summary Freshly harvested wheat straw contained 0.096 g water g^–1 dry straw and 180 mM acetic acid. The straw absorbed water more rapidly from wet soil. The concentration of acetic acid fell to about 10 mM within 6 h of incorporation of straw in the soil and then remained relatively constant for a period of 12 days, irrespective of soil moisture content. In soil at its maximum water holding capacity after gravitational drainage, the decline in acetic acid concentration (c) with distance (d) from wheat or barley straw was exponential, with c=c_o e^–nd where c_o is the concentration of acetic acid at the straw surface and n is a constant (0.46 for barley and 0.42 for wheat straw). The presence of acetic acid seems to be a major cause of poor establishment and growth when seeds and seedling roots come into contact with straw.     

The interaction between wheat germ agglutinin and membrane incorporated glycophorin A. An optical binding study

A novel integrated optical technique is used to monitor the kinetics of incorporation of glycophorin A (GPA) from solution into a planar dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine-cholesterol bilayer membrane, and the subsequent binding of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to the membrane-incorporated GPA. The technique significantly improves the attainable accuracy of kinetic measurements. The number of bound molecules can be determined to a precision of ca ± 80 mol µm^–2. Our results show that GPA incorporates spontaneously into the bilayer. Binding of WGA to GPA is optimal in the presence of human serum albumin, and can be reversed byN-acetyl-d-glucosamine. The kinetics of the binding are consistent with the presence of two classes of kinetically distinguishable binding sites with association rates of 2.0×10⁴ and 9.6×10² M^–1 s^–1, and dissociation rates of 2.7×10^–3 s^–1 and <10^–5 s^–1, respectively. A stoichiometry of 4 WGA monomers per GPA monomer was determined as characteristic of the overall binding interaction.Abbreviations DMPC dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine - GlcNAc N-acetyl-d-glucosamine - GPA glycophorin A - HSA human serum albumin - NeuNAc N-acetyl-d-neuraminic acid - TE transverse electric - TM transverse magnetic - WGA wheat germ agglutinin     

The structural organisation of the gene encoding class II starch synthase of wheat and barley and the evolution of the genes encoding starch synthases in plants

Wheat and barley contain at least four classes of starch synthases in the endosperm, granule bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) and starch synthases I, II and III (SSI, SSII, SSIII). In this work, SSII in barley is shown to be associated with the starch granule by using antibodies. A cDNA from barley encoding SSII and the genes for SSII from barley and Aegilops tauschii (A. tauschii, the D genome donor to wheat) are characterised. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and PCR were used to localise the wheat SSII gene to the short arm of chromosome 7, showing synteny with the location of the rice SSII gene to the short arm of chromosome 6. Comparison of the genes encoding SSII of A. tauschii, barley and Arabidopsis showed a conserved exon-intron structure although the size of the introns varied considerably. Extending such comparison between the genes encoding starch synthases (GBSSI, SSI, SSII and SSIII) from A. tauschii and Arabidopsis showed that the exon-intron structures are essentially conserved. Separate and distinct genes for the individual starch synthases therefore existed before the separation of monocotyledons and dicotyledons. Electronic Publication     

Effects of temperature on the properties of primary auditory fibres of the spectacled caiman,Caiman crocodilus (L.)

Summary The effect of temperature on the response properties of primary auditory fibres in caiman was studied. The head temperature was varied over the range of 10–35 ° C while the body was kept at a standard temperature of 27 °C (T_s). The temperature effects observed on auditory afferents were fully reversible. Below 11 °C the neural firing ceased.The mean spontaneous firing rate increased nearly linearly with temperature. The slopes in different fibres ranged from 0.2–3.5 imp s^–1 °C^–1. A bimodal distribution of mean spontaneous firing rate was found (<20 imp s^–1 and >20 imp s^–1 at T_s) at all temperatures.The frequency-intensity response area of the primary fibres shifted uniformly with temperature. The characteristic frequency (CF) increased nearly linearly with temperature. The slopes in different fibres ranged from 3–90 Hz °C^–1. Expressed in octaves the CF-change varied in each fibre from about O.14oct °C^–1 at 15 °C to about 0.06 oct °C^–1 at 30 °C, irrespective of the fibre's CF at T_s. Thresholds were lowest near T_s. Below T_s the thresholds decreased on average by 2dB°C^–1, above T_s the thresholds rose rapidly with temperature. The sharpness of tuning (Q_10db) showed no major change in the temperature range tested.Comparison of these findings with those from other lower vertebrates and from mammals shows that only mammalian auditory afferents do not shift their CF with temperature, suggesting that a fundamental difference in mammalian and submammalian tuning mechanisms exists. This does not necessarily imply that there is a single unifying tuning mechanism for all mammals and another one for non-mammals.Abbreviations BF best frequency: frequency of maximal response at an intensity 10 dB above the CF-threshold - CF characteristic frequency - FTC frequency threshold curve, tuning curve - T _s standard temperature of 27 °C     

Effect of secondary plant substances on winter wheat resistance to grain aphid

The association between the concentrations of hydroxamic acids, total phenols, and indole alkoloids in winter wheat cultivars with their antibiotic resistance to the grain aphid Sitobion avenae (F.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) was studied. The antibiosis was measured under field conditions using the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m). The content of the studied allelochemicals was estimated in flag leaf at the anthesis growth stage. Highly significant negative correlations were found between the r_m values and the concentrations of hydroxamic acids (r=–0.905) and total phenols (r=–0.946), but not with indole alkaloids (r=–0.380). The contribution of these allelochemicals to the resistance of winter wheat to S. avenae is discussed.

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Résumé Les effets combinés de la concentration en substances allélochimiques des feuilles flétries et de la résistance antibiotique aux pucerons des grains ont été étudiés sur 4 cultivars de blé d'hiver, dont 2 modérément résistants: Saga et Grana et 2 sensibles: Emika et Liwilla. L'antibiose a été évaluée dans les conditions de la nature, aux stades d'épiaison et d'anthèse, en utilisant le taux intrinsèque de croissance r_m. La quantification des substances allélochimiques a été effectuée par colorimétrie.Des corrélations négatives hautement significatives ont été trouvées entre les valeurs de R_m et la concentration en acides hydroxamiques (r=–0,905 pour 10 dl, P<0,01) et la teneur totale en phénols (r=–0,946, pour 10 dl, P<0,01). La teneur en alcaloïdes indols était elle aussi corrélée négativement, mais pas significativement avec r_m (r=–0,380, pour 10 dl, P>0,1). La discussion porte sur la contribution de ces substances allélochimiques à la résistance du blé d'hiver à Sitobion avenae.

     

Experimental study of 60Co behaviour in Tejo River sediments

The objective of this study was to obtain information on the transfer of radiocobalt in freshwater environments that can be used to predict its environmental distribution. The sediment-water behaviour of ⁶⁰Co in freshwater systems was studied through adsorption and desorption experiments undertaken using sediments and water from Fratel Reservoir in the Tejo River. The suspended sediment concentrations (C_s: 500–2000 mg 1^–1) and Co distribution coefficient (K_d) were inversely related: K_d = 2211–2001 ln [C_s]; K_d ranged from 4000 to 8000 ml g^–1. With a suspended sediment concentration of 1000 mg 1^–1, the ⁶⁰Co concentration remaining in solution (C_t) was given by: C_t = 49.4 e^–0.584t + 46.3 e^–0.014t; where t is the time in days and the half-life periods are 1.2 and 50 days. In a closed system, desorption of ⁶⁰Co could be described by a one-component relation with a half-life of 104 days, and a two component relation (half-life 5 hours and 45 days) in an open system. In river water the ⁶⁰Co was found to be almost 100% in cationic forms, however, in the presence of sediment there was a decrease in the proportion of cationic forms (to 50%), with some anionic forms appearing.