Complementing cultural weed control with plant allelopathy: Implications for improved weed management in wheat crop

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop in Pakistan which is suffering from major grain production loss because of weed infestations. Control of weeds by herbicides is a primary weed management tool in wheat crop which can be detrimental to the environment and grain produce. Development of an efficient and eco-friendly alternate to the herbicidal weed control, testing the effectiveness of cultural weed control (crop row orientation, selected wheat genotypes and hand weeding) and plants water extracts was undertaken for weed control in wheat. An experiment was run under field conditions in winter season in 2016–2017 and in 2017–2018 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The repeated experiment was each time undertaken using a randomized complete block design with a double split plot arrangements at the New Developmental Farm, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. The crop row orientations used were assigned to the main plots. The wheat genotypes used were assigned to the sub-plots. The allelopathic water extracts and hand weeding were assigned to the sub-sub plots. The averaged mean values for row orientations of both the years revealed lowest weed density (95.7 weeds m^?2), highest grains per spike (47.3), 1000 grains weight (44.7 g) in north to south row orientation. The averaged mean values of weed density (101.6 weeds m^?2), grains per spike (48.2), 1000 grains weight (45.9 g), crude protein content (12.793%), crude fat content (1.533%) and ash content (1.586%) were greater for the wheat genotype Pirsabaq-2013 and Atta-Habib-2010. Water extract of S. halepense, P. hysterophorus, H. annuus and hand weeding showed significantly lower weed density (84.0 to 93.3), grains per spike (50.9 to 48.3), 1000 grains weight (48.3 to 46.2 g), grains protein content (12.280 to 12.209%), grains crude fat content (1.471 to 1.464%) and grains ash content (1.523 to 1.515%). Interaction effect of different tested weed control treatments i.e. N-S × Pirsabaq-2013 and Atta-Habib-2010 × water extract of S. halepense, P. hysterophorus and H. annuus were found to show further reduction in weed density and enhance grains per spike and grains nutrition contributing parameters. Our results show that sowing wheat genotypes Pirsabaq-2013 and Atta-Habib-2010 in north-to-south row orientation, and application of water extract of S. halepense, P. hysterophorus, H. annuus can give an effective weed management and increased quality grain yield of wheat.     

Photosynthetic characteristics and enzymatic antioxidant capacity of flag leaf and the grain yield in two cultivars of Triticum aestivum (L.) exposed to warmer growth conditions

Using late sowing practice, the reproductive growth (anthesis and kernel filling) phase of two wheat cultivars, HD 1553 and HD 2307 was exposed to warmer growth conditions, and the effect on grain yield was examined. The grain weight declined in late-sown plants of both cultivars, but the number of grains per spike decreased drastically in HD 1553 plants. In this cultivar exposure to warmer temperature during reproductive phase led to 67% fewer grains per spike. Examination of photosynthetic and enzymatic antioxidant capacity in flag leaves of late-sown plants revealed a marked reduction in chlorophyll and carotenoid pigmentation in addition to a decline in the activity of H2O2 metabolising enzymes in HD 1553 cultivar. The photo-oxidative pigment loss due to warmer growth conditions in late-shown HD 1553 plants could lead to a reduction in flag leaf photosynthesis and contribute to poor grain yield.     

冬小麦产量性状的遗传效应分析

以农大139等7个冬小麦品种进行4×3不完全双列杂交,采用加性-显性及其与环境互作的遗传模型对亲本、F_1和F_2的株高、主穗穗长、单株穗数、主穗小穗数、千粒重和单株粒重6个性状进行遗传分析．结果表明,株高和主穗长主要受加性效应控制,而单株穗数、主穗小穗数、千粒重和单株粒重主要受显性×环境互作效应影响．矮2杂交后代易选到矮株,奥里生杂交后代易得到大穗材料,农林10号和奥里生的杂交后代分蘖力将加强,814的杂交后代小穗数增多,814杂交后代千粒重增高．所有产量性状未表现明显的杂种优势．     

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.     

Deciphering the environmental impact on spike architectural traits for grain yield consolidation in bread wheat (T. aestivum L.)

The realization of grain yield in wheat is decided by source-sink balance under prevailing environmental conditions. Management conditions like changing the sowing time influence the source-sink capacity through modification in agronomic traits. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to decipher the influence of spike architectural traits (SATs) on grain yield and to open avenues for further grain yield enhancement. Comparatively early sowing over timely sowing gives the advantage of realizing higher grain yield with a positive relationship with SATs namely spike length, spikelets per spike, individual spike weight, individual grain weight, number of grains per spikelet, grain length, and grain width of upper and lower spike portion. Confirmatory factorial analysis revealed that spike length, spikelets per spike, individual spike weight, grains per spikelet were having a significant effect in deciding grain yield in early sown. The presence of a significant effect of genotype by environment interaction over grain yield and SATs allows the exploitation of available genotypic and environmental variability for further yield enhancement. GGE analysis on transformed and standardized grain yield-trait (GY-trait) combinations was used in the selection of genotypes having high GY-trait combinations for both sowing times. In early sowing, WG 11 was the best for high GY with high individual spike weight; grain length and grain width at lower and upper parts of the spike; and shorter days to 50% flowering. Genotypes exclusively having the high GY-trait combination along with low values of remaining GY-trait combinations were also selected with genotype focused GGE approach.     

不同生育期遮光对水稻生长发育和产量形成的影响

研究了不同生育期遮光45%(水稻生长的前期、中1期、中2期、后期)对水稻形态发育、光合产物积累、稻株养分含量、产量构成等的影响,并重点研究了植株对N、P、K养分的吸收规律。结果表明,各期遮光后均使干物质积累速率降低,植株N、P、K养分吸收量减少,对产量有不同程度的影响,但植株体内N、P、K养分含量上升。前期遮光主要使分蘖数急剧下降,有效穗数减少,叶面积系数下降,产量下降11.56%,但株高增加;中1期遮光后对水稻生长影响不大,产量仅降低5.46%;中2期遮光主要使每穗粒数和千粒重下降,对产量影响较大,降低幅度达30.80%;后期遮光主要影响结实粒和千粒重,其产量最低,降低55.40%.文中还对弱光照条件下的生育期安排和施肥决策提出了建议.     

Abscisic acid content and growth of spring barley plants treated with triazoles

Effects of triazolium compounds (paclobutrazol, uniconazole, and azovit), applied under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, on growth of barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L., cvs. Moskovskii 2 and Zazerskii 85) and ABA content in their tissues were studied for the first time. At various application techniques, the retardants suppressed growth of axial organs, promoted thickening and strengthening of lower internodes, and caused a considerable increase in ABA content. These changes were observed already on the next day after spraying plants with retardants and maintained for two weeks after the spraying treatment. At the same time, the retardant action sustained for 42 days when the retardants were applied to soil. The triazoles had positive effects on plant productivity characteristics, such as the number of filled grains in the main spike, total weight of grain per plant (grain collected from the main and lateral spikes), and the weight of 1000 grains. It was concluded that the retardant effect of triazoles on spring barley plants is related to elevated ABA content in plant tissues over a prolonged growth period.Translated from Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 1, 2005, pp. 108–114.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Chizhova, Pavlova, Prusakova.     

Diallelic analysis of quantitative traits in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A complete diallel study of crosses between eight wheat varieties was carried out to determine the relative magnitude of components of genetic variation and heritability for important grain yield, quality and drought‐related traits. The data appeared adequate for the additive‐dominance model. The additive effects predominated for most traits, and consequently the narrow‐sense heritability was high to moderately high for flag leaf area, weight and venation, stomatal frequency and size, epidermal cell size, biomass, protein content, number of tillers, spike length, spike density, 1000‐grain weight and grain yield. These results appear promising for selecting better plants in the segregating populations with some degree of improvement for yield, quality and physiological efficiency.     

新疆荒漠绿洲稻区稻水象甲危害损失及防治阈值研究

【目的】稻水象甲是水稻的一种毁灭性害虫,也是我国重要的对外检疫性对象之一。该虫自2010年传入新疆后,其发生面积和危害呈不断加重趋势,已对新疆水稻尤其是绿色有机水稻的生产构成了严重威胁。稻水象甲危害造成的产量损失及防治阈值的确定对其准确预测预报及化学防治都具有重要的指导意义。然而,目前尚未见新疆荒漠绿洲稻区的相关报道。【方法】通过田间罩笼试验比较研究了不同虫口密度下的水稻有效穗数、单穗粒数、结实粒及产量等指标,计算得出稻水象甲在新疆的产量允许损失率及防治阈值。【结果】田间稻水象甲成虫数量与水稻有效穗、单穗粒数、结实率存在显著负相关性,但与千粒重关系不显著;逐步线性回归模型分析表明,水稻产量与虫口密度、每公顷穗数、单穗粒数和结实率相关性显著,它们是影响水稻产量的主要因子。此外,新疆荒漠绿洲稻区稻水象甲的产量允许损失率为1.1756%,其防治阈值为5.82头·m~(-2)。【结论】新疆荒漠绿洲稻区允许的稻水象甲越冬代虫口密度最大临界值为5.82头·m~(-2),高于此值应及时进行防治。     

Genetics of transgressive segregation for yield and yield components in wheat

Three crosses of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell) involving six cultivars (WC29, WH291, SGP 14, RAJ. 1972, WH377 and HD 2329) were selected on the basis of combining ability analysis to study genetics of transgressive segregation for tillers/plant, grains/spike, 1000 grain weight and grain yield/plant using various mating designs. Diallel analysis indicated that both additive and non- additive components were significant for all the characters. On the basis of general combining ability and specific combining ability effects, the parents WH 291 and WH 377 were found to be good general combiners for tillers/ plant, 1000 grain weight and grain yield/plant. For grains/spike SGP 14 was found to be a good general combiner. The cross WH 377 × HD 2329 for tillers/plant, SGP 14 × Raj. 1972 for grains/spike and grain yield/plant and WC 29 × WH 291 for 1000 grain weight were found to be good cross combinations. Generation mean analysis indicated that the additive-dominance model was inadequate for all the characters in all the crosses except for 1000 grain weight in WC29 × WH291. Additive component was more pronounced than non-additive components for all the characters in all the crosses except for tillers/ plant in WH 377 × HD 2329. Predictions for transgressive segregants from F₃ was more accurate than that from generation mean analysis. However, prediction from both the sources were equally efficient if additive-dominance model was adequate. In general, observed frequencies of transgressive segregants were more in F₂ and BIPi than F₄ but the majority of them were discarded on progeny testing. Biparental mating had an impact in increasing the frequencies of transgressive segregants for different characters in all the crosses. The crosses, WH 377 × HD 2329 for grain yield/ plant, SGP 14 × Raj. 1972 for tillers/plant and WC 29 × WH 291 for grains/spike and 1000 grain weight were found to be potential crosses for transgressive segregants. A comparison of combining ability of parents and crosses, and observed and predicted frequencies of transgressive segregants indicated that the potential crosses for transgressive segregants were those that had high sea effects and involved high and low general combiners. The crosses involving low general combiners irrespective of their sea effects showed poor performance with respect to transgressive segregation.     

Endosperm enrichment and physicochemical properties of superior and inferior grain starch in super hybrid rice

• A significant asynchronous phenomenon exists in super hybrid rice because of the differences in spike and spikelet positions, which affect the accumulation and properties of starch. However, little is known about the endosperm enrichment and physicochemical properties of starch in superior and inferior grains in super hybrid rice.
• Rice YY2640 was selected as study material to investigate the enrichment and physicochemical properties of starch in superior and inferior grains in super rice using semi‐thin sections, X‐ray diffraction and related technologies.
• Superior grain filling was a continuous process, whereas inferior grain only started 8–10 days after anthesis. The order of starch accumulation starts in the central endosperm, then in the endosperm of the proximal vascular bundle and finally in the aleurone layer. Compared with the inferior grains, the superior grains have a higher 1000‐grain weight, apparent amylose content, total starch content, average starch granule size, relative crystallinity, solubility and a resonance peak ratio at 1022/995 cm^?1, whereas the swelling power and ratio of the resonance peak at 1045/1022 cm^?1 were lower. The final degree of hydrolysis of HCl, AAG and PPA of the superior grains were significantly lower than those of the inferior grains.
• The findings indicate that the different physicochemical properties of starch were mainly related to the development order of superior and inferior grains and the spatial enrichment of starch.

     

黑龙港流域夏玉米产量提升限制因素

从产量构成因素及物质生产着手分析了黑龙港流域夏玉米产量进一步提高的限制因子.分析结果显示:穗数、穗粒数和千粒重均与产量显著相关,说明该地区夏玉米仍有继续增产的潜力;但在再高产过程中,单纯依靠穗数增加,产量增产幅度较小,应稳定在一定适宜的密度下,注重单位面积穗粒数和粒重的提高,但在穗数确定的情况下,穗粒数相对稳定,增加粒重成为再高产重要因素.因此,采取措施增强灌浆速率和延长灌浆时间是关键,即增强或稳定叶片在花后的有效光合能力.结果表明,增加叶片数量对产量贡献很小,而改善叶片质量、提高叶片功能,进而增加花后同化物合成至关重要.因此,茎秆和叶片的质量是再高产实现的关键技术突破点.同时,提高茎秆的花前物质转运比例也有助于提高于粒重,促进产量提升.在生产实践中,进一步挖掘产量必须搞清楚地上和地下两方面的关系,但目前对“根系-土壤”复合体的结构和功能研究相对较少.不合理耕作方式造成了土壤耕层太浅,严重影响了玉米根系生长发育,使生育后期吸收功能减弱,不利于产量形成.加之,吐丝前后阴雨寡照,造成穗粒数形成决定期的“源”不足,同时也限制了灌浆速率,提前播期,躲避灾害天气或推迟收获时期,延长灌浆时间等逆境栽培措施就显得尤为重要.     

Comparison of phosphorus mobilization during monocarpic senescence in rice cultivars with sequential and non-sequential leaf senescence

The senescence pattern of the three uppermost leaves of four rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars viz. Ratna, Jaya, Masuri and Kalojira was analysed in terms of decline of chlorophyll and by measuring [³²P]-phosphate retention and export from leaf to grains during the reproductive development. With the advancement of reproductive development, the cultivars Masuri and Kalojira showed a sequential mode of senescence, but the cultivars Ratna and Jaya showed a non-sequential mode of leaf senescence where the flag leaf senesced earlier than the older second leaf. Foliar spraying with benzyladenine (0.5 mM) significantly delayed, and abscisic acid (0.1 mM) accelerated, leaf senescence. In untreated control plants, the second leaf had the highest export of labelled phosphate among the leaves at the grain formation stage (0–7 days) in Masuri and Kalojira. This was compensated by the flag leaf at the grain development stage (7–14 days), whereas export of [³²P]-phosphate was highest from the flag leaf of Ratna and Jaya at the grain development stage. Compared with the control, benzyladenine treatment caused higher retention of [³²P]-phosphate in the leaves and also export to the grains, but abscisic acid treatment gave lower retention and export of [³²P]-phosphate to the grains. The amount of [³²P]-phosphate export from a mother to a daughter shoot developed in the axil of the second leaf of plants with the panicle removed, was less than that to panicles remaining on control plants of all cultivars. When the panicle had been excised, the greatest export of [³²P]-phosphate took place from the second leaf to the daughter shoot in all cultivars. Excision of the panicle delayed leaf senescence as compared with intact controls and maintained an age-related leaf senescence pattern in all the four cultivars. The results presented here demonstrate that mobilization of phosphorus from leaf to grains, regardless of cultivar or age and position of the leaf, correlates well with the senescence of that leaf.     

Branching Shoots and Spikes from Lateral Meristems in Bread Wheat

Wheat grain yield consists of three components: spikes per plant, grains per spike (i.e. head or ear), and grain weight; and the grains per spike can be dissected into two subcomponents: spikelets per spike and grains per spikelet. An increase in any of these components will directly contribute to grain yield. Wheat morphology biology tells that a wheat plant has no lateral meristem that forms any branching shoot or spike. In this study, we report two novel shoot and spike traits that were produced from lateral meristems in bread wheat. One is supernumerary shoot that was developed from an axillary bud at the axil of leaves on the elongated internodes of the main stem. The other is supernumerary spike that was generated from a spikelet meristem on a spike. In addition, supernumerary spikelets were generated on the same rachis node of the spike in the plant that had supernumerary shoot and spikes. All of these supernumerary shoots/spikes/spikelets found in the super wheat plants produced normal fertility and seeds, displaying huge yield potential in bread wheat.     

小麦根际联合固氮菌(固氮螺菌,Azospirillum brasilense)田间接种效果的研究

据黑龙江省1990年7个中试点试验证明,小麦根际联合固氮菌田间接种效果在5.2—20.6％,平均为9.8％;每田可增产小麦19.1公斤。小麦根际联合固氮菌能促进小麦本长发育,在生育期间可使株高、鲜重增加,叶色变缘。秋收考种证明,对产量构成因子的平方米穗数、穗粒数和千粒重均有增加。     

Activities of key enzymes for starch synthesis in relation to growth of superior and inferior grains on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spike

Weight of individual grains is a major yield component in wheat. The non-uniform distribution of single grain weight on a wheat spike is assumed to be closely associated with starch synthesis in grains. The present study was undertaken to determine if the enzymes involved in starch synthesis cause the differences in single grain weight between superior and inferior grains on a wheat spike. Using two high-yield winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties differing in grain weight and three nitrogen rates for one variety, the contents of amylose and amylopectin, and activities of enzymes involved in starch synthesis in both superior and inferior grains were investigated during the entire period of grain filling. Superior grains showed generally higher starch accumulation rates and activities of enzymes including SS (sucrose synthase), UDPGPPase (UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase), ADPGPPase (ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase), SSS (soluble starch synthase) and GBSS (starch granule bound starch synthase) and subsequently produced much higher single grain weight than inferior grains. Nitrogen increased enzyme activities and starch accumulation rates, and thus improved individual grain weight, especially for inferior grains. The SS, ADPGPPase and SSS were significantly correlated to amylopectin accumulation, while SS, ADPGPPase, SSS and GBSS were significantly correlated to amylose accumulation. This infers that SS, ADPGPPase and starch synthase play key roles in regulating starch accumulation and grain weight in superior and inferior grains on a wheat spike.     

Effects of powdery mildew at different growth stages on grain yield of barley

Pot-grown barley plants (cv. Proctor) were exposed to infection by powdery mildew during four stages of development, G.S. 2–6, G.S. 7–9, G.S. 10-10-5 and G.S. 11 (Feekes scale, Large, 1954). All combinations were examined (i.e. 2⁴ factorial). The numbers of fertile tillers at harvest were significantly reduced by mildew during periods G.S. 2–6 and G.S. 7–9. Numbers of grains per head and grain size (1000 grain weight) were significantly reduced by mildew only during G.S. 2–6. Effects, on components of yield, of the four mildew treatments were found to be almost entirely additive. The only significant interactions found were for grain size: in this instance there was some interaction between treatments at G.S. 2–6 and G.S. 10-10-5 and between treatments at G.S. 2–6, G.S. 7–9 and G.S. 10-10-5.     

Rate and duration of grain filling in relation to flag leaf senescence and grain yield in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) exposed to different concentrations of ozone

Effects of different concentrations of ozone on grain filling, flag leaf senescence and final grain yield in field‐grown spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Dragon) were studied using open‐top chambers. The hypothesis tested was that an ozone‐induced reduction in grain yield is mainly related to an enhanced senescence and a shortening of the grain‐filling period. The plants were exposed to filtered air (F), non‐filtered air without extra ozone (NF) or non‐filtered air with 3 different levels of ozone added (NF1+, NF2+ and NF3+). The mean daytime (08.00–20.00 h) ozone concentrations during the exposure period (31 days) were 7, 20, 34, 48 and 62 nmol mol?1 in F, NF, NF1+, NF2+ and NF3+, respectively. The corresponding ozone doses, expressed as the accumulated exposure over a concentration threshold of 40 nmol mol?1 (AOT40), were 0, 12, 1 989, 5 881 and 10 375 nmol mol?1 h, respectively, and 884, 2 594, 4 557, 6 188 and 7 900 μmol m?2, respectively, expressed as the calculated cumulative flag leaf ozone flux (CFO30). The flag leaves senesced earlier and the grain‐filling duration was significantly shorter at higher ozone exposure compared to F (?5, ?13 and ?18% in NF1+, NF2+ and NF3+, respectively). The relative grain‐filling rate did not differ between the treatments. The 1000‐grain weights were 10, 28 and 37% lower, and the grain yields were 15, 29 and 46% lower than F in NF1+, NF2+ and NF3+, respectively. Ozone exposure had no significant effect on the number of grains per unit ground area or on straw yield, but significantly reduced the harvest index and increased the grain protein concentration in NF2+ and NF3+ compared to F. The grain yield was negatively correlated with the ozone dose, expressed either as AOT40 or as CFO3 with or without an ozone flux threshold. The 1000‐grain weight was positively correlated with the grain‐filling duration (R2=0.998), which in turn was positively correlated with the leaf area duration (R2=0.989).     

The effects of growth regulators on somaclonal variation in rye (Secale cereale L.) and selection of somaclonal variants with increased agronomic traits

The aim of this research was to characterize somaclonal variation in populations derived from embryos cultured on two types of induction medium (supplemented with either 2,4-D or dicamba), as well as to select and characterize several somaclonal lines. The sexual progenies of 40 R(0)regenerants - A somaclones (derived on the medium with 2,4-D) and B somaclones (derived on the medium with dicamba) - were analysed according to the following traits: plant height, total number of tillers, number of productive tillers, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, spike compactness, number of normally developed grains per spike, weight of grains per spike, and the weight of 1000 grains. The results for twenty-two R(1)plants surpassed the variability range for the control. The transmission of positive changes to the next generation was proved in the case of 8 originally chosen R(1) plants: 7 plants selected from the A somaclones and one plant from the B somaclones. Five out of the eight created somaclonal lines proved to be stable somaclonal variants. The absolute rate of the efficiency of positive somaclonal changes was calculated as 0.64%.     

小麦高代新品系鉴定的聚类分析

采用系统聚类分析方法对小麦育种高代出圃品系进行了鉴定,依据小区产量、抽穗期、株高、穗长、公顷穗数、穗粒数、单穗重、千粒重、籽粒饱满度和角质率10个性状,将38个参试品系以离差平方和法在D2=2.083聚类水平下划分为5个类群,通过聚类分析了解各类群、类内品系之间以及与对照种的关系.初步评选出9个综合性状优良的新品系,描述了各个类群中品系的特性,为小麦高代品系鉴定提供了较为精确的定量鉴定方法.