Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has ability to induce germination of Orobanche cumana

Orobanche cumana Wallr. (sunflower broomrape) is a devastating root parasitic weed, causing enormous crop losses worldwide. The question was whether or not switchgrass has the potential to be a ‘trap crop’ for O. cumana control. To answer this question, the field experiments, pot experiments, and laboratory experiments were conducted in this study. The ability of nine switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars to induce O. cumana seeds germination was tested. Results indicated that root extracts shoot extracts, rhizosphere soil, and root exudates from switchgrass induced O. cumana germination. Ability to induce germination varied significantly among growing stages, with the earlier part of growing season (grown for 2 weeks) generally inducing the highest O. cumana germination rates. The methanol was a more suitable solvent than distilled water for extracting germination stimulants from switchgrass plants. Ten-fold dilutions of the extracts generally induced higher germination rates than either undiluted or 100-fold dilutions. The germination rates of O. cumana seeds in shoot extracts treatments were positively correlated with those in the root extracts (R² = 0.6397; p < 0.01) and negatively correlated with those in the rhizosphere soil treatments ( R² = 0.4433; p < 0.05). In conclusion, it is believed that switchgrass is a potential trap crop for the control of root parasitic weed O. cumana.     

水稻化感作用的机制与应用的研究进展

水稻是我国的主要粮食作物,其与周围植物的相生相克作用（化感作用）得到越来越多的重视.简要介绍了近来国内外对水稻对高等植物的化感作用的研究成果,介绍其化感作用途径、化感物质的分离、鉴定、可能的作用原理及在生产实践中的应用.     

Comparative studies on Orobanche cernua L. and O. cumana Wallr. (Orobanchaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

The systematic treatment of Orobanche cumana Wallr. and O. cernua L. is controversial. Whereas some authors consider O. cumana as an infraspecific taxon of O. cernua , others treat it as a separate species. Furthermore, the nomenclature of the sunflower broomrape is unclear, and both names arc found without qualification in the literature. The objective of the present study has been to evaluate the distribution, morphology, and ecology of O. cernua and O. cumana in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as their seed oil fatty acid profile, which is a trait of great chemotaxonomic value. O. cernua was found parasitizing wild Compositac, mainly Artemisia spp., whereas O. cumana was exclusively found on cultivated sunflower. Both species clearly differ in morphological traits, especially plant height and build, length and structure of the inflorescence, corolla length and colour. Both species are characterized by contrasting seed oil fatty acid profiles, with high oleic acid concentration in O. cernua and high linoleic acid concentration in O. cumana. The evaluation of both taxa in the Iberian Peninsula gives additional support to those authors that treat them as separate species.     

Relative toxicity of arsenite and arsenate on germination and early seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Elevated soil arsenic levels resulting from long-term use of arsenic contaminated ground for irrigation in Bangladesh may inhibit seed germination and seedling establishment of rice, the country's main food crop. A germination study on rice seeds and a short-term toxicity experiment with different concentrations of arsenite and arsenate on rice seedlings were conducted. Percent germination over control decreased significantly with increasing concentrations of arsenite and arsenate. Arsenite was found to be more toxic than arsenate for rice seed germination. There were varietal differences among the test varieties in response to arsenite and arsenate exposure. The performance of the dry season variety Purbachi was the best among the varieties. Germination of Purbachi was not inhibited at all up to 4 mg l^–1 arsenite and 8 mg l^–1 arsenate treatment. Root tolerance index (RTI) and relative shoot height (RSH) for rice seedlings decreased with increasing concentrations of arsenite and arsenate. Reduction of RTI caused by arsenate was higher than that of arsenite. In general, dry season varieties have more tolerance to arsenite or arsenate than the wet season varieties.     

低钾胁迫对水稻(Oryza sativa L.)化感潜力变化的影响

研究以国际公认的化感水稻P1312777和非化感水稻Lemont为供体,稗草（Echinochloa cru-galli L.）为受体,采用稻／稗共培体系,研究低钾胁迫对水稻化感潜力变化的影响及其机制。受体稗草的形态指标分析结果表明,低钾胁迫促使化感水稻P1312777对共培稗草的根长、株高和干重的抑制率均升高,增幅远大于非化感水稻Lemont。受体稗草生理生化指标分析结果表明,低钾胁迫下化感与非化感水稻对受体稗草保护酶系（SOD、POD、CAT）及根系活力的抑制作用增强,但化感水稻P1312777比非化感水稻Lemont的抑制程度大,且达极显著差异。实时荧光定量PCR分析结果表明,低钾胁迫下,化感水稻P1312777根部与叶部中酚类代谢的关键酶——苯丙氨酸解氨酶、肉桂酸-4-羟化酶、羟化酶、O-甲基转移酶的基因均上调表达,而非化感水稻根部相应酶均下调表达,叶部除苯丙氨酸解氨酶上调,其余酶也下调表达。而萜类代谢途径关键酶——HMG—CoA还原酶、角鲨烯合酶、单萜烯环化酶、倍半萜烯环化酶、二萜烯环化酶的基因,在两种水稻根部中呈现出相同或相似的表达方式（上调或下调）,即HMG—CoA还原酶上调表达,角鲨烯合酶、单萜烯环化酶、倍半萜烯环化酶、二萜烯环化酶下调表达;而在水稻叶部,非化感水稻Lmont相应酶基因表达方式仍然不变,化感水稻P1312777除了角鲨烯合酶下调表达,其余4个酶均上调表达。水稻根系分泌物中酚类物质的HPLC分析结果表明,低钾胁迫下,化感水稻P1312777根系分泌物中,所检出的酚酸类物质总量是正常营养条件下的2．30倍,而非化感水稻Lemont则是正常营养条件下的0．91倍。综合分析认为低钾胁迫下,化感水稻P1312777抑草能力增强主要是由于酚类代谢途径关键酶基因表达上调,导致酚类代谢途径旺盛,分泌出更多的酚类物质,进而破坏受体稗草保护酶系统,抑制了稗草的正常生长。     

Effects of aqueous extract of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) on seed germination and radicle elongation of Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea

Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the allelopathic potentials of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) on seed germination and radicle elongation of Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. f.) Presl var. plantaginea (Roxb.) Solms-Laubat. To compare the relative allelopathic potentials of rice plants at different growth stages, aqueous extracts of dried tissues were obtained from the seeds, husks, and seedlings harvested 10, 20, 40 and 120 days after seeding. When M. vaginalis seeds were incubated in solutions containing aqueous extracts, significant increases in the germination rate were observed for all the aqueous extracts except for the extract of 10 d-old shoots at higher dosages. When partitioned with ethyl acetate, the germination-promoter(s) in the aqueous extracts remained in the aqueous phase while some inhibitors were extracted with ethyl acetate. In contrast, aqueous shoot extracts added to the incubation media at the same dosage for promotion of seed germination inhibited radicle elongation of M. vaginalis, indicating that the sensitivity of the weed varies between these two growth stages.     

Heterosis breeding in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Studies conducted at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) during 1980 and 1981 have shown up to 73% heterosis, 59% heterobeltiosis and 34% standard heterosis for yield in rice. The latter was estimated in comparison to commercial varieties: IR36 and IR42 (yield 4–5 t/ha in wet season trials and 7–8 t/ha in dry season trials). Generally speaking, absolute yield was lower and extent of standard heterosis was higher in wet season than in dry season with some exception. Yields up to 5.9 t/ha (22% standard heterosis) in the wet season and 10.4 t/ha (34% standard heterosis) in the dry season were obtained. Most of the hybrids performed better in some season while some performed better in both seasons. Hybrids showed better lodging resistance although they were 5–10 cm taller. F₁ hybrids had significant positive correlations with the parental traits viz., yield (r = 0.446), tillering (r = 0.746), height (r = 0.810) and flowering (r = 0.843). Selection of parents among elite breeding lines on the basis of their per se yield performance, diverse origin and resistance to insects and diseases should give heterotic combination. Yield advantage of hybrids was due primarily to increase in number of spikelets per unit area even though tiller number was reduced. Grain weight was either the same or slightly higher. High yielding hybrids also showed significant heterosis and heterobeltiosis for total dry matter and harvest index. For commercial utilization of heterosis in rice, effective male sterility and fertility restoration systems are available and up to 45% natural outcrossing on male sterile lines has been observed. Consequently, F₁ rice hybrid have been successfully developed and used in China. Prospects of developing hybrid rice varieties elsewhere appear bright especially in countries that have organized seed production, certification and distribution programs and where hybrid seed can be produced at a reasonable cost.     

Effects of brassinosteroids on conditioning and germination of clover broomrape (Orobanche minor) seeds

Brassinolide [2, 3, 22R,23R-tetrahydroxy-24S-methyl-B-homo-7-oxa-5--cholestan-6-one] and its related compounds, brassinosteroids, applied at the early stages of conditioning shortened the conditioning period required before clover broomrape seeds would germinate after exposure to germination stimulants, such as dl-strigol and natural stimulants from red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) root exudate. Brassinosteroids applied after conditioning increased the rate of the seed germination induced by these stimulants. The inhibitory effect of light on seed germination when it was induced by dl-strigol could be overcome by brassinosteroids. Brassinosteroids also eliminated the inhibitory effects of light and dl-strigol applied at the early stages of conditioning. GA₃ was also effective in causing seed conditioning and increased the rate of the germination induced by these stimulants. There was a relationship between brassinosteroids and GA₃ in many of the experiments conducted. These findings may have practical implications in increasing the effectiveness of applying germination stimulants in the field to soils for suicidal germination of broomrape seeds.     

Impact of root exudates of different cultivars and plant development stages of rice (Oryza sativa L.) on methane production in a paddy soil

The impact of root exudates, collected from five rice cultivars, on methane (CH₄) production was studied in a paddy soil under anaerobic conditions. Root exudates of the cultivars Dular, IR72 and IR65598 collected at four growth stages and of B40 and IR65600 collected at two growth stages showed that (a) CH₄ production was commenced rapidly within 2 h upon exudate addition and reached a maximum within a day of addition, and (b) 7-d incubation periods were sufficient to study exudate-induced CH₄ production potentials. Among different cultivars, high C releases from roots, increased the methanogenic source strength of the soil, which finally controlled CH₄ production. The relationship of the amount of CH₄ produced was stronger for the amount of total organic C (r = 0.920) than for the amount of organic acids (r = 0.868) added through exudates. Apparently, CH₄ production and CH₄ emission are more closely related to the release pattern of root exudate-C than to its individual components. The proportion of exudate-C converted to CH₄ ranged between 61 and 83% and remained unaffected by cultivars and growth stages suggesting that the majority of exudate-C served as a methanogenic substrate in the anoxic rice soils. These observations indicate that the use of high-yielding cultivars with lowest excretion (for example IR65598, IR65600) would result in lowest exudate-induced CH₄ production. Therefore, cultivar choice could greatly influence regional and global CH₄ emissions and screening/selection of exiting rice cultivars, and/or breeding new cultivars with low exudation rates could offer an important methane mitigation option as long as yields are not compromised.     

Genetic analysis of plant regeneration in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary A diallel study involving reciprocal crosses of four genotypes (IR8, 36, 54, and 64) was carried out to understand the genetic mechanism of plant regeneration from immature embryo-calli in rice. Regeneration frequency (% of calli that produced plants) varied from a high of 86% for IR54 to a low of 0% for IR36, while regenerated plants per embryo numbered from 0 to 7 when these same IR lines and the F₁ hybrids were compared. Combining ability analysis revealed that both nuclear (with both additive and dominant effects) and cytoplasmic genes are important in controlling regeneration in rice. Parental lines and F1 hybrids with high ability to regenerate were identified.     

水稻微卫星标记的发展和应用

微卫星又称简单序列重复。它是由几个核苷酸（一般２～４个）为重复单位组成的串联重复序列。相同座位上的重复序列由于重复次数的不同而造成序列长度的多态性。微卫星标记是一种共显性标记,具有等位基因丰富、检测技术简单等优点。微卫星标记在基因组作图、品种鉴定、种质保存、分子标记辅助选择等方面有着广泛的应用。目前水稻中已发展了３００多个微卫星标记。     

Effect of brassinosteroids on salinity stress induced inhibition of seed germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The effect of 24-epibrassinolide and 28-homobrassinolide on the inhibitionof germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa) induced bysalinity stress was studied. Brassinosteroids were found to reverse theinhibitory effect on germination and seedling growth. The activation ofseedling growth by brassinosteroids under salinity stress was associatedwith enhanced levels of nucleic acids and soluble proteins.     

Genetic studies of rice (Oryza sativa L.) anther culture response

Anthers of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties, Lunhui 422 (P₁) and Jinzao 5 (P₂), their F₁, F₂ and first backcross generation-F₁ x Lunhui 422 (B₁), and F₁ x Jinzao 5 (B₂)-were cultured in L8 medium to study the inheritance of rice anther culturability using generation mean analysis. Significant effects of generation were observed for the four traits measured: anther response (%), frequency of callus induction (%), frequency of callus differentiation (%) and culture efficiency (%). Variation among the generations was similar for all traits: significant differences were found among six generations and the means of the P₂ and B₂ were significantly lower than those of the other generations. The frequency of callus differentiation showed a nonsignificant difference among the P₁, F₁, F₂ and B₁ generations which had slightly high values than the P₂ and B₂. Additive genetic variance (V_A) was higher than non-additive genetic variance (V_D) for anther response and frequency of callus induction. However, A_V was lower than V_D for frequence of callus differentiation and culture efficiency, V_A was significant for all traits except for the culture efficiency, and V_D was nonsignificant for all traits except for the frequency of callus differentiation. On the other hand, environmental variation (V_E) was significant for the 4 traits. Narrow-sense heritability estimates were 95.52%, 82.19% and 13.54% for anther response, frequency of callus induction and culture efficiency, respectively.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid     

Arsenic uptake and accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) irrigated with contaminated water

Long-term use of arsenic contaminated groundwater to irrigate crops, especially paddy rice (Oryza sativaL.) has resulted in elevated soil arsenic levels in Bangladesh. There is, therefore, concern regarding accumulation of arsenic in rice grown on these soils. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water on the growth and uptake of arsenic into rice grain, husk, straw and root. There were altogether 10 treatments which were a combination of five arsenate irrigation water concentrations (0–8 mg As l^–1) and two soil phosphate amendments. Use of arsenate containing irrigation water reduced plant height, decreased rice yield and affected development of root growth. Arsenic concentrations in all plant parts increased with increasing arsenate concentration in irrigation water. However, arsenic concentration in rice grain did not exceed the maximum permissible limit of 1.0 mg As kg^–1. Arsenic accumulation in rice straw at very high levels indicates that feeding cattle with such contaminated straw could be a direct threat for their health and also, indirectly, to human health via presumably contaminated bovine meat and milk. Phosphate application neither showed any significant difference in plant growth and development, nor in As concentrations in plant parts.     

根区通氧状况对水稻幼苗生长及吸收镉的影响

采用水培的方法研究了根区通氧状况对水稻根系结构、根系泌氧、根表铁膜生成以及水稻耐受、吸收Cd的影响.水培条件下,根区氧处理对水稻幼苗的生长产生了一定的影响,缺氧条件下的水稻根的伸长量降低,生物量增加,直径增粗,根系泌氧量增加,并降低幼苗对Cd的吸收.当培养溶液Cd2+浓度为1.0 mg/L时,缺氧处理相对于通氧处理,根表吸附的Cd降低了85 5%,地下部分吸收的Cd降低了35%,转运到地上部分的Cd降低了58%.根表铁膜对Cd的吸收和转运也有一定的抑制作用,但其作用因环境中Cd2+浓度和根区通氧状况而异.在根区通氧充分的培养条件下,水稻幼苗铁膜对较高浓度Cd2+(1.0 mg/L)的吸收和转运起着重要的作用,DCB-Cd占根系吸收Cd的50%,茎叶对Cd的吸收显著降低(p<0.05).研究表明在缺氧胁迫下,根系结构本身(如根表通透性降低)是影响水稻吸收Cd的重要因素.     

Comparison of root length of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties by using an Image Analyzer

By using the image analyzer technique, the length of rice roots including the fine size (ca. 20 μm) roots was successfully measured. The analysis revealed that the roots of a high-yielding rice variety were 26% longer than those of an ordinary variety and that the root length of both varieties varied similarly depending on the fertilizer managements.     

Gene flow from transgenic rice to red rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the field

In this study, we simulate a transgenic rice crop highly infested with red rice to examine transgene transfer from a transgenic line (A2504) resistant to glufosinate ammonium to cohabitant red rice. The red rice was sown along with the transgenic line at the highest density found in naturally infested crops in the region. Agricultural practices similar to those used to control red rice infestation in northern Italy rice fields were used to reproduce the local rice production system. During the first 2 years, the field was treated with herbicide at the appropriate time; in the first year the dosage of herbicide was three times the recommended amount. In this first year, detectable red rice plants that escaped herbicide treatment were manually removed. Nevertheless, two herbicide‐resistant hybrid plants (named 101 and 104) were identified in the experimental field during the second year of cultivation. Phenotypic and molecular characterisation suggests the hybrid nature of these two plants, deriving from crossing events involving A2504, respectively, with red rice (plant 101) and the buffer cultivar Gladio (plant 104). The progeny of two subsequent generations of the two plants were examined and the presence of the transgene detected, indicating stable transfer of the transgene across generations. In conclusion, despite control methods, red rice progeny tolerant to the herbicide can be expected following use of transgenic rice and, consequently, difficulties in controlling this weed with chemicals will emerge in a relatively short time.     

Photosynthesis and root characteristics of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in floating culture

To address the issue of water eutrophication and to use water more effectively, we conducted experiments on rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in floating culture. From 2009 to 2011, we compared the photosynthesis and root characteristics of the rice, hybrid line Zhuliangyou 02, grown under a conventional tillage and in a floating culture in Huaihua, the home of hybrid rice. Rice in the floating culture showed a higher net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance than that under the conventional tillage. The activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malic enzyme were 32 and 28% higher, respectively, in rice in the floating culture than under the conventional tillage. Rice in the floating culture also showed significantly greater number of roots, root activity, and antioxidant enzyme activity than that under the conventional tillage. Compared with rice under the conventional tillage, rice in the floating culture had 18 and 24% higher tiller number and effective panicle number, respectively. These results suggested that the floating culture system can promote rice production through enhancing root absorption, increasing effective panicle number, and improving the photosynthetic rate. In addition, rice cultivated in the floating culture could remove excess nutrients from water, which addresses the problems of a lack of arable land and water pollution.     

Mechanism associated with nonstructural carbohydrate accumulation in submergence tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars

Nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) accumulation in submergence tolerant rice cultivars (cv) was studied in six Indica rice [Oryza sativa (L.)] cv under control and simulated submerged conditions. Tolerant cultivars accumulated greater contents of NSC compared to the susceptible cultivars. Starch and total NSC content showed significant positive association with survival percentage. On the other hand, elongation due to submergence was significantly a negative association with survival. The CO₂ photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, maximum photochemical efficiency of PS II (Fv/Fm), and activities of Rubisco were not significantly different between tolerant and susceptible cv under control condition. The ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPPase) activity was significantly higher in the tolerant cv and was a positive association with starch/NSC, whereas Fructose 1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase) activity was significantly higher in susceptible cv compared to tolerant cv and was a negative association with starch/NSC. Greater activities of AGPPase along with lower activities of FDPase might facilitate greater accumulation of NSC in tolerant rice cultivars.