Differences in Sugar Accumulation and Mobilization between Sequential and Non-Sequential Senescence Wheat Cultivars under Natural and Drought Conditions

Wheat leaf non-sequential senescence at the late grain-filling stage involves the early senescence of younger flag leaves compared to that observed in older second leaves. On the other hand, sequential senescence involves leaf senescence that follows an age-related pattern, in which flag leaves are the latest to undergo senescence. The characteristics of sugar metabolism in two sequential senescence cultivars and two non-sequential senescence cultivars under both natural and drought conditions were studied to elucidate the underlying mechanism of drought tolerance in two different senescence modes. The results showed that compared to sequential senescence wheat cultivars, under natural and drought conditions, non-sequential senescence wheat cultivars showed a higher leaf net photosynthetic rate, higher soluble sugar levels in leaves, leaf sheaths, and internodes, higher leaf sucrose synthase (SS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity, and higher grain SS activity, thereby suggesting that non-sequential senescence wheat cultivars had stronger source activity. Spike weight, grain weight per spike, and 100-grain weight of non-sequential senescence cultivars at maturity were significantly higher than those of sequential senescence cultivars under both natural and drought conditions. These findings indicate that the higher rate of accumulation and the higher mobilization of soluble sugar in the leaves, leaf sheaths and internodes of non-sequential senescence cultivars improve grain weight and drought tolerance. At the late grain-filling stage, drought conditions adversely affected leaf chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, soluble sugar and sucrose content, SS and SPS activity, gain SS activity, and weight. This study showed that higher rates of soluble sugar accumulation in the source was one of the reasons of triggering leaf non-sequential senescence, and higher rates of soluble sugar mobilization during leaf non-sequential senescence promoted high and stable wheat yield and drought tolerance.     

Water potential gradients of tall and short cultivars of winter wheat

Summary Water and osmotic potentials were measured with thermocouple psychrometers, weekly after heading, two times each day at pre-dawn and at noon, in flag leaves and grain of tall and short cultivars of winter wheat grown in the field under rain-fed conditions.Water was held with less tension in the grain than in the leaf for both tall and short cultivars. The tall cultivars had lower leaf water potentials, but higher grain water potentials, than the short cultivars. The grain osmotic potential was lower in the short cultivars compared to the tall ones. Grain yield of short cultivars (1810 kg/ha) was more than that of tall cultivars (1730 kg/ha). Apparently higher leaf water potentials of short cultivars enabled more photosynthates to move into the grain.     

Analysis and modelling of effects of leaf rust and Septoria tritici blotch on wheat growth

A model to predict Septoria tritici blotch (STB) and leaf rust effects on wheat growth was constructed and evaluated in two steps. At the leaf scale, Bastiaans' approach that predicts the relative photosynthesis of a wheat leaf infected with a single disease, was extended to the case of two diseases, one biotrophic and one necrotrophic by considering the leaf rust-STB complex. A glasshouse experiment with flag leaves inoculated either singly with one disease or with two diseases combined was performed to check the leaf damage model. No interaction of the two diseases on photosynthesis loss was observed when they occurred simultaneously on the same leaf. In a second step, the single-leaf model was extended to the canopy scale to model the effects of the leaf rust-STB complex on the growth of a wheat crop. The model predicts the effects of disease on the growth of an affected crop relative to the growth of a healthy crop. The canopy model accounted for different contributions to photosynthetic activity of leaf layers, derived from their position in the canopy and their natural leaf senescence. Treatments differing in nitrogen fertilization, microclimatic conditions, and wheat cultivars were implemented in a field experiment to evaluate the model. The model accurately estimated the effect of disease on crop growth for each cultivar, with differences from experimental values lower than 10%, which suggests that this model is well suited to aid an understanding of disease effects on plant growth. A reduction in green leaf area was the main effect of disease in these field experiments and STB accounted for more than 70% of the reduction in plant growth. Simulations suggested that the production of rust spores may result in a loss of biomass from diseased crops and that stem photosynthesis may need to be considered in modelling diseased crop growth.     

三种栽培模式下不同基因型冬小麦旗叶衰老代谢比较

为了探索冬小麦在不同栽培模式下功能叶片衰老代谢的生理机制,以cp02(213)、cp99(1)和陕农512为材料,比较研究了常规栽培、覆草栽培、地膜覆盖3种栽培模式下小麦旗叶衰老代谢特性.结果表明,覆草栽培叶面积、旗叶功能期、叶绿素含量、叶片保护酶活性(SOD、POD、CAT)显著高于常规栽培,膜脂过氧化程度较低,叶片衰老速度缓慢,代谢强度旺盛,有利于籽粒灌浆和光合产物的积累.灌浆前期,地膜覆盖叶面积、旗叶功能期、叶绿素含量、叶片保护性酶活性(SOD、POD、CAT)显著高于常规栽培,膜脂过氧化程度低于常规栽培;灌浆后期,叶绿素含量急剧下降,叶片衰老速度加快,膜脂过氧化程度加剧.参试品种(系)中陕农512叶片衰老速度缓慢,保绿性好.     

Seed phosphorus (P) content affects growth,and P uptake of wheat plants and their association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi

Two experiments were carried out in a growth chamber and a naturally lit glasshouse to investigate the influence of seed phosphorus (P) reserves on growth and P uptake by wheat plants (Triticum aestivum cv Krichauff), and their association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Increased seed P reserves improved plant growth at a range of P supply up to over 100 mg P kg^–1 soil. Plants grown from seeds with high P reserves tended to accumulate more P from soil, which was mainly attributed to better root system development. Mycorrhizal colonisation did not significantly affect P uptake of plants grown with low irradiance (in growth chamber). However, in the naturally lit glasshouse, mycorrhizal plants had significantly higher P concentrations than non-mycorrhizal plants. Furthermore, mycorrhizal plants grown from seeds low in P accumulated similar amounts of P compared with those grown from seeds with high P, indicating that mycorrhizal colonisation may overcome the disadvantage of having low seed P reserves in the field.     

Boron accumulation and partitioning in wheat cultivars with contrasting tolerance to boron deficiency

Two pot experiments at the Plant Environment Laboratory (PEL), Reading, UK investigated sterility, boron (B) accumulation and B partitioning of wheat cultivars grown with limited B in the growing medium. The first experiment evaluated nine cultivars of spring wheat with diverse field responses to low available soil B, supplied with or without 20 μM B. A second experiment examined the response of a susceptible (SW-41) and a tolerant (Fang-60) cultivar to B-deficiency. These cultivars were supplied with either 20 μM B from sowing to flag leaf emergence and no added B thereafter, or 20 μM B from sowing to maturity. When B was not supplied in the nutrient solution, the number of grains ranged from 4 per ear (cv. BL-1135) to 32 per ear (cv. BL-1249) and sterility of competent florets ranged from 39% to 93%. Boron concentration in the flag leaf at anthesis did not differ greatly when the growing medium contained limited B, but differences between cultivars were evident when B was unlimited. Tolerance of B-deficiency was not related to the B concentration in the flag leaf. Some cultivars produced viable pollen and set grains while others failed to do so at similar B concentrations in the flag leaf. The two contrasting cultivars did not differ much in their pattern of B partitioning when B supply was restricted from flag leaf emergence onwards. Similarly, little evidence was found that the tolerant cultivars translocated B from their leaves, roots or stems when the supply in the growing medium was restricted. The proportion of total B partitioned in different organs was the same irrespective of B supply and cultivar. On average, leaves contained 68% of the total B content in the whole plant compared to 16% in the roots, 10% in the ears and only 6% in the stems. Tolerant or susceptible cultivars of wheat could not be distinguished based on the B concentration and B content of the flag leaf. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Physical features of grass leaves influence the placement of eggs within the plant by the Hessian fly

Hessian fly eggs are more likely to be found on adaxial rather than abaxial surfaces of wheat leaves. These leaf surfaces differ in their physical features: the adaxial side of the leaf has parallel grooves and ridges while the abaxial side is relatively smooth. We used leaf models to investigate the relationship between Hessian fly egglaying and these physical features. When both sides of a green paper leaf model were treated with a wheat leaf extract, but only one side of the model was scored with parallel grooves, the grooved side received more eggs than the smooth side. As the number of grooves per surface increased from 0 to 10, eggs per model increased. When grooves and the wheat leaf extract were tested together and separately, the grooves significantly increased egg numbers in the presence, but not the absence, of wheat extract. In contrast, wheat extract increased egg numbers both in the absence and presence of grooves. Molding techniques were used to recreate the physical features of the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of five grasses. For four of the grass genotypes (a triticale, two common wheats, and a durum wheat), patterns of egglaying on real leaves and molded models were similar, i.e., adaxial leaf surfaces and adaxial molded models were preferred over abaxial leaf surfaces and abaxial models. On the fifth grass, oat, preferences for the adaxial side of real leaves and for adaxial models were not as obvious. We conclude that the adult female Hessian fly obtains information about the leaf surface through her tactile and/or kinesthetic senses and uses this information when making egglaying decisions.     

The effect of Trichoderma harzianum and T. koningii on the control of tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) and leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) of wheat under field conditions in Argentina

The effect of six isolates of Trichoderma harzianum and one isolate of T. koningii on the incidence and severity of tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) and leaf blotch of wheat (Mycosphaerella graminicola) was evaluated under field conditions. Significant differences between wheat cultivars, inoculum types and growth stages were found. Three of the isolates tested (T2 for M. graminicola, T7 for P. tritici-repentis and T5 for both of them) showed the best performance in controlling leaf blotch and tan spot when coated onto seed or sprayed onto wheat leaves at different growth stages, with significant severity reduction up to 56%. At tillering, six of the isolates reduced the severity of P. tritici-repentis and M. graminicola compared to the control by up to 39% and 12-53%, respectively. In some experiments, the biocontrol preparation (T2 and T5) gave a level of disease control similar to that obtained with Tebuconazole (70 and 48%, respectively). The effect of Trichoderma against P. tritici-repentis was also observed at the heading stage, when six of the treatments reduced disease severity by 16-35%. This is the first report on the efficacy of Trichoderma spp. against wheat necrotrophic pathogens under field conditions in Argentina.     

不同发育时期追施氮肥对冬小麦旗叶中光合酶活性的影响

小麦开花后,随着旗叶的衰老,旗叶中1,5-二磷酸核酮糖羧化酶（RuBPC）、磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶（PEPC）和乙醇酸氧化酶（GO）活性呈下降趋势。随着追施氮肥时期的推迟,光合酶活性呈增加趋势,这意味着氮肥追施时间后移有利于提高小麦光合速率。在旗叶衰老后期,大穗型品种小麦旗叶中光合酶活性略高于多穗型品种小麦。     

Effect of seed manganese content on the growth of wheat (triticum aestivum) under manganese deficiency

Summary The importance of seed manganese (Mn) content for seedling growth of two wheat cultivars under soil Mn deficiency was demonstrated in growth cabinet experiments. Seed was obtained from different field sites (giving a Mn content range of 0.1 to 6.4 μg Mn seed⁻¹), as well as from soaking seed in MnSO₄ prior to sowing. Seed soaking greatly increased the seed Mn content, however, only about 15–20% of this additional Mn was recovered in the seedlings after 26 days growth. In these experiments, the seed rather than the soil provided the major source of plant Mn. Manganese critical deficiency levels (CDLs) were also obtained for leaves, shoots and roots. Increased grain yields from seed soaking were also evident in the field.     

A wheat canopy model for use in disease management decision support systems

A model is described which predicts those aspects of wheat canopy development and growth which are influential in determining the development of epidemics of foliar pathogens, the efficacy of foliar applied fungicides and the impact of disease on yield; specifically the emergence, expansion and senescence of upper culm leaves in relation to anthesis date. This focus on upper leaves allowed prediction of leaf emergence dates by reference to anthesis, rather than sowing. This avoided the step changes in flag leaf emergence date with temperature, reported with earlier models, without the additional complexity of a stochastic approach. The model is designed to be coupled to models of foliar disease, where the primary effect on yield is via reduction in green canopy area and hence interception of photosynthetically active radiation. Mechanisms were incorporated to allow observations of crop development during the growing season to update state variables and adjust parameters affecting future predictions. The model was calibrated using experimental data, and validated against independent observations of crop development on four wheat cultivars across seven contrasting sites in the UK. Anthesis date and upper culm leaf emergence were always predicted within one week of their observed dates.     

抗旱性不同品种的小麦叶片中光合电子传递和分配对氮素水平的响应

在大田控制条件下,以植物叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光测定相结合的方法,研究抗旱性不同品种冬小麦拔节期叶片的光合电子传递及激发能利用分配对氮素响应的结果表明,施氮可提高抗旱性不同品种小麦叶片天线色素吸收光能的能力,虽然氮素不能改变激发能在光合碳还原（PCR）和光合碳氧化（PCO）之间的分配比例,但可提高PSⅡ总电子传递速率（JF）和Pn。低氮下不同品种小麦叶片的热耗散比例有差异,但中高氛下叶片之间无显著差异。旱地品种的鼻值随氮素水平的提高而先增加后下降,而水地品种则表现为持续升高：2个小麦品种的叶片J0值随氮素水平的提高而呈持续升高的变化趋势。氮素对叶片PSⅡ反应中心活性有影响．而不同抗旱性品种之间亦有差别,说明施氮可改善小麦叶片热耗散和光化学反应对激发能的竞争关系,从而增强光合机构的自我保护能力。     

Allometric models for non-destructive leaf area estimation in coffee (Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora)

We aimed to evaluate the currently used allometric models, as well as to propose a reliable and accurate model using non-destructive measurements of leaf length (L) and/or width (W), for estimating the area of leaves of eight field-grown coffee cultivars. For model construction, a total of 1563 leaves were randomly selected from different levels of the tree canopies and encompassed the full spectrum of measurable leaf sizes (0.3–263 cm²) for each genotype. Power models better fit coffee leaf area (LA) than linear models. To validate the model, an independent data set of 388 leaves was used. We demonstrated that the currently used allometric models are biased, underestimating the area of a coffee leaf. We developed a single power model     based on two leaf dimensions [LA = 0.6626 (LW)^1.0116; standard errors: β₀ = 0.0064, β₁ = 0.0019; R² = 0.996] with high precision and accuracy, random dispersion pattern of residuals and also unbiased, irrespective of cultivar and leaf size and shape. Even when the L (but not width) alone was used as the single leaf dimension, the power model developed still predicted with good accuracy the LA but at the expense of some loss of precision, as particularly found for 8% of the leaves sampled with length-to-width ratios below 2.0 or above 3.0.     

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of a new leaf rolling triticale

Leaf rolling occurs in some cereal genotypes in response to drought. We identified and made a phenotypic, cytological and physiological analysis of a leaf-rolling genotype (CMH83) of hexaploid triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) that exhibited reduced plant height, rolled and narrow leaves. Gliadin electrophoresis of seed protein showed that CMH83 was genetically stable. Sequential Giemsa-C-banding and genomic in situ hybridization showed that CMH83 contains 12 rye chromosomes; two pairs of these chromosomes have reduced telomeric heterochromatin bands. Tests of relative water content and water loss rate of leaves of CMH83 compared with those of wheat cultivars indicated that rapid water loss after drought stress in CMH83 is associated with the leaf rolling phenotypes. Leaf rolling in CMH83 was a dominant trait in our inheritance studies. Triticale line CMH83 could be used to study drought resistance mechanisms in triticale.     

基于高光谱遥感的小麦叶干重和叶面积指数监测

生物量和叶面积指数(LAI)是描述作物长势的重要参数, 叶干重和LAI的实时动态监测对小麦(Triticum aestivum)生长诊断和管理调控具有重要意义。为分析多种高光谱参数估算小麦叶干重和LAI的效果, 建立小麦叶干重和LAI的定量监测模型, 该研究连续3年采用不同小麦品种进行不同施氮水平的大田试验, 于小麦不同生育期采集田间冠层高光谱数据并测定叶片叶干重和LAI。试验结果显示, 小麦叶干重和LAI随施氮水平的提高而增加, 随生育进程呈单峰动态变化模式。小麦叶干重和LAI与光谱反射率间相关性较好的区域主要位于红光波段(590~710 nm, r<-0.60)和近红外波段(745~1 130 nm, r>0.69)。对于不同试验条件下的叶干重和LAI, 可以使用统一的光谱参数进行定量反演, 其中基于RVI (810, 560)、FD755、GM1、SARVI (MSS)和TC3等光谱参数的方程拟合效果较好。经不同年际独立试验数据的检验表明, 以参数RVI (810, 560)、GM1、SARVI (MSS)、PSSRb、(R_750-800/R_695-740) -1、VOG2和MSR705为变量建立的叶干重和LAI监测模型均给出较好的检验结果。因此, 利用关键特征光谱参数可以有效地评价小麦叶片生长状况, 尤其是光谱参数RVI (810, 560)、GM1和SARVI (MSS)可以对不同条件下小麦叶干重和LAI进行准确可靠的监测。     

Characteristics of common wheat cultivars of West Siberia carrying the wheat-rye 1RS.1BL translocation

Using genomic in situ hybidization, among the common wheat cultivars produced in West Siberia (Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture, Omsk) with the involvement of the winter wheat cultivar Kavkaz carrying the wheat-rye 1RS.1BL translocation we identified three cultivars with this translocation: Omskaya 29, Omskaya 37, and Omskaya 38. The protein and crude gluten contents in the grain of these cultivars are equal to or exceed the levels observed in cultivars without the wheat-rye translocation. The common wheat cultivars carrying the wheat-rye translocation were evaluated in terms of resistance of plants reaching wax ripeness to leaf rust and powdery mildew in the natural field conditions. The cultivars Omskaya 37 and Omskaya 38 displayed a high field resistance to leaf rust and were resistant to a variable extent to powdery mildew. The cultivar Omskaya 29 was susceptible to leaf rust and powdery mildew pathogens. Importance of the selection direction and the role of the genetic background in developing common wheat cultivars carrying the wheat-rye translocation is discussed.     

稻麦叶片氮积累量与冠层反射光谱的定量关系

作物氮素积累动态是评价作物群体长势及估测产量和品质的重要指标,对于作物氮素的实时监测和精确管理具有重要意义。该文以5个小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种和3个水稻(Oryza sativa)品种在不同施氮水平下的3年田间试验为基础,综合研究了稻麦叶片氮积累量与冠层反射光谱的定量关系。结果表明,不同试验中拔节后叶片氮积累量均随施氮水平呈上升趋势;稻麦冠层光谱反射率在不同施氮水平下存在明显差异,可见光区(460~710 nm)反射率一般随施氮水平的增加逐渐降低,近红外波段(760~1 220 nm)反射率却随施氮水平的增加逐渐升高;就单波段而言,810和870 nm处的冠层光谱反射率均与稻麦叶片氮积累量具有相对较高的相关性;在光谱参数中,比值植被指数(Ratio vegetation index, RVI)(870,660)和RVI(810,660)均与稻麦叶片氮积累量具有高度的相关性,且相关系数明显高于单波段反射率,尤其是水稻作物;对于小麦和水稻,均可以利用统一的波段和光谱指数来监测其叶片氮积累量,并可以采用统一的回归方程来描述其叶片氮积累量随单波段反射率和反射光谱参数的变化模式,但若采用单独的回归系数则可以提高稻麦叶片氮积累量估测的准确性。     

Isolation and nucleotide sequences of cDNA clones encoding ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase polypeptides from wheat leaf and endosperm

A cDNA clone (WL : AGA.1) encoding wheat leaf ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase has been isolated from a gt11 expression library, by immunological screening with anti-spinach leaf ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase serum. The WL : AGA.1 cDNA is 948 bp long and contains approximately 55% of the complete wheat leaf ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase mRNA sequence, estimated from Northern blot experiments. A wheat endosperm cDNA library was subsequently constructed in gt11 and six clones hybridising to the cDNA insert of clone WL : AGA.1 were isolated. The longest of these wheat endosperm ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase cDNAs, clone WE : AGA.7, is nearly full-length (1798 bp), indicated by Northern blot analysis of wheat endosperm mRNA and nucleotide sequence analysis.Southern hybridisation analysis and restriction enzyme mapping indicated that the wheat leaf and wheat endosperm ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase cDNAs and genes are members of two distinct gene families. In addition, restriction enzyme mapping revealed polymorphism in the wheat endosperm ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase cDNAs, indicating the existence of at least two wheat endosperm ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene sub-families.Subsequent nucleotide sequence analysis indicates that there is approximately 55% identity between wheat leaf and wheat endosperm ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase cDNAs. In contrast, members of each sub-family of endosperm cDNA, represented by clones WE : AGA.3 and WE : AGA.7, are 96% identical.     

Genetic variation in the efficiency of nitrogen utilization and photosynthetic activity of flag leaves among the old and modern germplasm of winter wheat

Genotypic variation in major components of the efficiency of nitrogen utilization and photosynthetic activity of flag leaves among old (released 1881-1963) and modern (released 1969-2003) cultivars of winter wheat was studied in field conditions under varied N fertilization levels (110, 90 and 80 kg N ha-1). Significant genotypic differences were observed for all characters. Their heritabilities ranged from 0.37 to 0.93 and were the lowest for the leaf efficiency of gas exchange, photosynthetic rate, straw N content and the economic index of N utilization efficiency (NUE). Some modern cultivars exhibited an enhanced tolerance to N shortage and several attributes of efficient N utilization (e.g. later senescing and more photosynthetically active flag leaves, increased ability to redistribute N into grains). The genotypes may serve as donors of appropriate characteristics for breeding. The observed cultivar-by-fertilization interactions suggest, however, that evaluations under diverse fertilization regimes may be necessary when searching for improved wheat efficiency and adaptation to less favourable environments.     

Interspecific Variation in RGR and the Underlying Traits among 24 Grass Species Grown in Full Daylight

Abstract: A growth analysis was conducted with 24 central European grass species in full daylight to test whether traits underlying interspecific variation in relative growth rate (RGR) are the same in full daylight as they are at lower light, and whether this depends on the ecological characteristics of the studied species, i.e., their requirements with respect to nutrient and light availability.
In contrast to studies with herbaceous species at lower light, net assimilation rate (NAR) contributed more than leaf area ratio (LAR) or specific leaf area (SLA) to interspecific variation in RGR. This was associated with a larger interspecific variation in NAR than found in experiments with lower light. Without the two most shade-tolerant species, however, the contribution of LAR and its components to interspecific variation in RGR was similar or even higher than that of NAR.
Leaf dry matter content correlated negatively with RGR and was the only component of LAR contributing in a similar manner to variation in LAR and RGR. There was a positive correlation between NAR and biomass allocation to roots, which may be a result of nutrient-limited growth. RGR correlated negatively with biomass allocation to leaves. Leaf thickness did not correlate with RGR, as the positive effect of thin leaves was counterbalanced by their lower NAR.
Low inherent RGR was associated with species from nutrient-poor or shady habitats. Different components constrained growth for these two groups of species, those from nutrient-poor habitats having high leaf dry matter content, while those from shady habitats had thin leaves with low NAR.