大豆种子储藏性磷对幼苗适应低磷胁迫的作用

选用种子大小不同、磷效率不同的两个大豆品种‘巴西10号’(B10)和‘本地2号’(L2),在不同供磷条件下进行营养液浇灌沙培,从大豆萌发至2片三出复叶完全展开期测定植株主要器官总磷、可溶性磷浓度、子叶可溶性蛋白、酸性磷酸酶比活性、植酸酶比活性的变化动态,探讨储藏性磷在大豆幼苗期适应磷胁迫中的作用。结果发现:(1)磷效率不同的两个大豆品种的种子中磷含量差异显著。(2)大豆萌发和幼苗生长过程中子叶的磷逐渐转入根、茎、叶中,并以转入叶中的磷最多,其中磷高效品种B10在发芽过程中子叶磷向各个器官转移的总磷量要高于磷低效品种L2,且持续时间长。(3)大豆萌发和幼苗生长过程中外源供磷水平显著影响子叶磷的转移,在外源供磷充足条件下各器官中总磷均高于低供磷条件,子叶中磷和外源磷存在补偿关系。(4)磷高效品种B10子叶中酸性磷酸酶活性在低磷条件下显著高于高磷条件,但磷低效品种L2在高、低磷间无显著差异。研究表明,大豆种子储藏性磷在幼苗期耐低磷能力建立方面具有重要作用。     

水分和磷素对木荷不同种源苗木生长和磷效率的影响

以用木荷中心产区的浙江龙泉、福建建瓯、尤溪和江西吉安4个代表性优良种源为试验材料,以广西产红荷为对照,设置不同水分处理和磷素水平的盆栽试验,研究水分和磷素对木荷种源苗木生长和生理指标的影响.结果表明：在不同的水分和磷素处理下,4个参试种源的苗木生长、根系形态参数和磷素吸收效率等均存在显著的遗传差异,福建建瓯和浙江龙泉种源苗木生长量大、根系发达、磷素吸收效率高,生长表现明显优于福建尤溪和江西吉安种源,而广西产红荷则保持其原产地速生、抗旱、耐瘠的特性.土壤水分和磷素对木荷种源苗木生长影响显著.适宜水分条件下,种源苗木径生长、干物质量、根系参数和磷素吸收效率较干旱胁迫条件下高18.5%～105.6%,高磷水平下种源苗木上述性状较低磷处理高37.5%～286.2%.但在干旱和低磷胁迫下,木荷将光合产物更多地分配至地下根系,磷素利用效率也较高,这可能是木荷适应干旱和低磷胁迫的重要生理机制.相对于显著的种源、水分和磷素主效应,其间的交互作用则可以忽略.     

不同基因型春蚕豆对磷胁迫的适应性反应

利用不同作物或品种吸收利用土壤磷能力的差异提高磷素营养效率,是解决磷资源短缺的重要生物学途径.选择西北地区重要经济作物春蚕豆作为研究对象,选用3个不同春蚕豆品种(系),采用严重缺磷的碱性灌淤土,利用盆栽法研究了在不同供磷水平下不同基因型蚕豆的根系形态特征、酸性磷酸酶活性(APase)及产量的表现, 探讨不同基因型蚕豆对低磷胁迫的适应性反应.结果表明在整个生长过程中根长、根半径、根比表面积和根冠比变动最明显的是临蚕5号,分别为36.40%,65.10%、65.27%和13. 46%;缺磷条件下,蚕豆主要通过减小根半径,增加根长、根表面积,提高根冠比及体内酸性磷酸酶活性来实现对低磷胁迫的适应;不同基因型对低磷胁迫的适应能力不同;缺磷胁迫明显诱导各基因型蚕豆体内酸性磷酸酶活性的上升,临蚕5号增加最快为24.9%,8409为7. 79%,8354为7.29%;同一基因型的不同器官中酸性磷酸酶活性大小表现为根系>茎部>叶片 .根系酸性磷酸酶和根系形态参数可分别作为蚕豆耐低磷品种筛选的选择指标;缺磷导致作物减产,并且不同的基因型作物减产的幅度不同,临蚕5号缺磷比施磷减产30.98%,而8354 的产量在两个磷水平下变化不明显,说明临蚕5号对磷素的反应最强烈,为磷低效基因型,而 8354反应比较迟钝,为磷高效基因型.     

磷有效性对大豆根冠中碳分配的影响

在水培条件下,研究不同浓度磷影响大豆根冠中碳分配的结果表明：磷有效性对大豆根冠中碳分配的影响依赖于磷浓度与胁迫时间。磷浓度高于0．125mmol．L^-1或低磷胁迫7d以内,大豆根冠中碳分配受到的影响不显著。低磷胁迫14d的大豆的净光合速率和根呼吸速率均显著下降,根冠比显著提高。这显示长期低磷胁迫下大豆碳同化总量和根呼吸消耗的碳量虽然减少,但根系生长的碳消耗则增加,光合碳同化形成的碳水化合物向根部的分配是受到促进的。     

不同基因型苦荞幼苗对低磷胁迫的响应

采用沙培法,以4个不同耐低磷苦荞(Fagopyrum tataricum(L.) Gaertn)品种为材料,设正常磷处理(P1,2 mmol/L对照)、低磷胁迫(P2,1 mmol/L)和极低磷胁迫(P3,0.2 mmol/L) 3个处理,研究低磷胁迫对苦荞苗期农艺性状、生理生化指标以及植株磷利用的影响。结果显示:(1)低磷胁迫下,苦荞苗期株高、茎粗、叶面积、地上部干重、根系干重、根系平均直径、根系表面积、根系体积等指标均有所下降;主根伸长、根冠比有所升高,但不同品种的升降幅度有所不同。(2)低磷胁迫使苦荞叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量和根系活力均有所下降,根系的SOD活性、POD活性、酸性磷酸酶活性、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量显著增加,且表现为耐低磷苦荞品种的增幅大于不耐低磷苦荞。(3)低磷胁迫使苦荞植株全磷含量和单株磷积累量下降,却使磷利用效率升高。研究结果表明耐低磷品种通过主根伸长下扎以及分泌较多的酸性磷酸酶,合理吸收与利用土壤磷素,通过保持叶片较高的叶绿素含量维持较强的光合能力,通过保持较高的抗氧化酶活性降低膜脂过氧化伤害,最大程度的适应低磷环境。     

磷胁迫下大豆酸性磷酸酶活性变化及磷效率基因型差异分析

在3种磷水平处理后,对23个大豆品种的叶片和根尖酸性磷酸酶活性、根冠比、干物质量、全磷含量及磷效率进行测定、比较和分析。结果表明,叶片或根尖酸性磷酸酶活性、叶片或根尖酸性磷酸酶活性相对值、根冠比,磷效率、磷效率相对值之间具有极显著差异(P相似文献   

磷元素和土壤酸化交互作用对核桃幼苗光合特性的影响

核桃(Juglans regia)向南推广种植不可避免地会遇到土壤酸化和缺磷的环境, 这种环境如何影响核桃的生长是生产中需要知晓的基础问题。该文研究了土壤不同pH值对核桃的磷素营养影响以及缺磷对核桃幼苗水分平衡、光合特性和生长的影响。在温室内采用砂培盆栽试验, 研究一年生核桃嫁接幼苗在不同pH值、磷水平基质中的水分关系、光合特性和生长的应对机制。研究设4种处理, 即: 对照(正常供应磷素+ pH 6.0); 正常供应磷素+ pH 3.0; 不添加磷素+ pH 6.0; 不添加磷素+ pH 3.0。结果显示: pH值与磷素对核桃幼苗的影响是两个相互独立的过程, 酸性(pH值3.0)条件下, 核桃幼苗根系生物量降低、根冠比减小, 根系导水率降低, 对磷素的吸收利用减少, 尽管其供磷正常, 但各生长指标及生理指标与磷胁迫条件下反应相似; 两因素具有一定的叠加性, 在磷胁迫条件下, 酸化(pH值3.0)对核桃幼苗的损害进一步加剧。各指标具体变化如下: 酸化及磷胁迫条件下核桃根系水分导度降低, 叶柄木质部结构改变, 导管密度降低, 木质部导管栓塞程度增加, 叶柄导水率下降, 植株水分运输效率降低, 叶片水势降低, 诱导气孔关闭; 气孔导度降低, 光合作用能力下降; 胁迫条件下, 叶绿素荧光参数最大光化学效率低于0.8, 实际光化学效率、光化学淬灭下降, 非光化学淬灭增加, 核桃幼苗受胁迫环境损害, 叶片光系统II光合电子传递活性受到抑制, 光合能力下降。总之, 土壤酸化抑制了核桃幼苗对磷元素的吸收利用, 造成体内缺磷; 磷胁迫及酸化抑制了叶柄木质部的发育, 降低了根系水分导度和叶柄导水率, 干扰了核桃幼苗水分平衡, 通过气孔与非气孔共同调节, 限制了核桃幼苗光合作用, 抑制了核桃幼苗高生长、直径生长及叶面积增加; 但并没有发现土壤酸化和缺磷之间有明显的交互作用。     

植物与低磷环境研究进展——诱导、适应与对策

自从20世纪70年代人们发现适应低磷土壤的作物根际磷的有效性明显增加的现象之后。植物与低磷环境的研究便引起了人们的重视。植物如何适应低磷环境和如何有效利用土壤磷素资源的问题已成为国内外当前的研究热点之一。研究表明,低磷条件下,植物根系形态结构会发生适应性变化,根冠间的物质分配会向根部倾斜使根冠比增加;植物根际酸度变化、有机酸分泌和磷酸酶释放有利于活化和利用土壤中的磷素资源;不同种类或品种的植物具有不同的磷营养效率基因型,具有不同亲和力的磷转运体,也具有不同的磷活化机制。人类对植物适应低磷机制的研究还将继续,揭示植物对低磷环境的响应对策和发掘植物有效利用磷素资源的潜力,在经济上和环保上均有非常现实的意义。     

磷胁迫对烤烟高亲和磷转运蛋白基因表达及磷素吸收利用的影响

为探明缺磷胁迫对烤烟磷吸收的影响机理,以烤烟品种‘豫烟10号’为材料,采用盆栽试验设置不施磷(-P)和正常供磷(+P)2个处理,分析了烟草生育后期根系和叶片中高亲和磷转运蛋白基因NtPht1;1、NtPht1;2(简称PT1、PT2)的表达差异性及其表达量与烟草磷含量、磷积累量的关系。结果表明:(1)随生育期的推进,烤烟根系和叶片的PT1基因相对表达量、PT2基因相对表达量、干物质重和磷素积累量逐渐增加,烟叶的磷含量逐渐降低,根系磷含量无明显的变化规律。(2)磷胁迫促使PT1、PT2基因的表达量上调,其中叶片PT1基因的相对表达量高于根系,叶片PT2基因的相对表达量显著低于根系。(3)磷胁迫限制了烤烟对干物质和磷素的积累,在移栽后90d,-P处理烤烟根系和叶片的干物质重、磷素积累量不到+P处理的一半,处理间差异极显著。研究认为,在缺磷环境下,烟草高亲和磷转运蛋白基因PT1和PT2表达量的增加,是由磷胁迫下烟草体内磷积累量降低所引起的系统性调控。     

供磷水平及方式对杉木幼苗根系生长和磷利用效率的影响

为研究杉木幼苗根系生长、形态学指标及养分利用效率对土壤磷素异质分布的响应规律,选择杉木种子园单株采种培育的半同胞家系实生幼苗为研究对象,采用室内沙培控磷盆栽试验,设计低浓度供磷(8 mg/kg KH₂PO₄)、正常供磷(16 mg/kg KH₂PO₄)和高浓度供磷(32 mg/kg KH₂PO₄)3个供磷水平,每个供磷水平分别采用2种供磷方式(局部供磷和均匀供磷)进行根部施磷。结果表明:(1)从供磷水平来看,低浓度供磷下的杉木根长、根系生物量、根冠比、根系及全株的磷素利用效率均显著大于正常供磷和高浓度供磷,而根平均直径相反;随着供磷水平的提高,杉木苗高和地上部生物量无显著差异,而比根长表现出逐渐降低的趋势。(2)从供磷方式来看,局部供磷处理的杉木苗高、根长、根系表面积、比根长、地上部生物量、根系及全株的磷素利用效率均显著大于均匀供磷处理,而根平均直径和根冠比则相反。总体上,低浓度局部供磷处理下杉木可明显增强其根系的形态可塑性,从而优化根系在养分异质土壤里的...     

QTL analysis of root traits as related to phosphorus efficiency in soybean

Background and Aims

Low phosphorus (P) availability is a major constraint to soybean growth and production, especially in tropical and subtropical areas. Root traits have been shown to play critical roles in P efficiency in crops. Identification of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring superior root systems could significantly enhance genetic improvement in soybean P efficiency.

Methods

A population of 106 F₉ recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between BD2 and BX10, which contrast in both P efficiency and root architecture, was used for mapping and QTL analysis. Twelve traits were examined in acid soils. A linkage map was constructed using 296 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with the Kosambi function, and the QTLs associated with these traits were detected by composite interval mapping and multiple-QTL mapping.

Key Results

The first soybean genetic map based on field data from parental genotypes contrasting both in P efficiency and root architecture was constructed. Thirty-one putative QTLs were detected on five linkage groups, with corresponding contribution ratios of 9·1–31·1 %. Thirteen putative QTLs were found for root traits, five for P content, five for biomass and five for yield traits. Three clusters of QTLs associated with the traits for root and P efficiency at low P were located on the B1 linkage group close to SSR markers Satt519 and Satt519-Sat_128, and on the D2 group close to Satt458; and one cluster was on the B1 linkage group close to Satt519 at high P.

Conclusions

Most root traits in soybean were conditioned by more than two minor QTLs. The region closer to Satt519 on the B1 linkage group might have great potential for future genetic improvement for soybean P efficiency through root selection.     

Organic acid exudation induced by phosphorus deficiency and/or aluminium toxicity in two contrasting soybean genotypes

Experiments in nutrient solution were conducted to investigate the exudation of organic acids (OAs) induced by phosphorus deficiency (–P) and/or aluminium toxicity (+Al) in two contrasting soybean genotypes as related to internal OA concentration and related enzyme activities. Baxi 10 (BX10), a known P‐efficient soybean (Glycine max[L] Merr.) genotype, was shown to be more resistant to +Al than a P‐inefficient genotype Bendi 2 (BD2), indicating the potential of selecting soybean cultivars with dual resistance to –P and +Al. The two contrasting genotypes were further characterized for root exudation and formation of oxalate, malate and citrate and their related enzyme activities in response to –P, +Al or both combined. –P significantly induced malate and oxalate exudation from both soybean genotypes, although the P‐efficient BX10 tended to excrete much more oxalate than the P‐inefficient BD2. The +Al treatment triggered citrate efflux from both genotypes, with BX10 having a much greater efflux rate than BD2. Interestingly, –P did not appear to induce citrate exudation, whereas +Al had no obvious effect on malate or oxalate exudation from the two genotypes. The exudation of OAs was generally diminished under the coupled stress of –P and +Al in comparison with either single stress, implying a possible antagonistic effect of the two stresses on OA exudation. Root malate content was negatively correlated with its exudation in BX10 but positively in BD2. A similar tendency was observed for oxalate content and exudation only with less magnitude. Determination of six related enzymes, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), phosphoenolpyruvate phosphatase (PEPP), malate enzyme (ME), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and pyruvate kinase (PK), in the root tips showed that their activities were not significantly altered during the early stage of treatments (2 and 4 days) whereas at 14 days after stress imposition, the activities of PEPC, PEPP, ME and ICDH were generally enhanced for both genotypes. However, the activity of these enzymes did not appear to be correlated with OA exudation or formation. This study clearly demonstrates that OA exudation is differentially induced by –P and +Al in soybean plants, with specific induction of oxalate and malate by –P and citrate by +Al. The lack of a close relationship between OA exudation and internal concentration or enzyme activities may suggest that the regulation of OA formation and exudation by –P and/or +Al could be imposed at different stages.     

Phosphorus benefits from grain-legume crops to subsequent maize grown on acid soils of southern Cameroon

We conducted field experiments over 2 years on two acid soils of southern Cameroon to test whether efficient uptake and use of phosphorus (P) from less available sources by grain legume genotypes could benefit subsequent rotational maize. We grew two crops each year. For the first crop we grew 4 genotypes of soybean and of cowpea, plus maize. For the second crop we grew maize. The first crops were fertilized with 0, 90 kg P ha⁻¹ as phosphate rock (PR) or 30 kg P ha⁻¹ as triple super phosphate (TSP). P application highly significantly increased shoot dry matter, P uptake, N₂ fixation and grain yields of the grain legumes with TSP generally more effective than PR. Two of the soybean and two of the cowpea genotypes were more efficient at using P. Only the P-efficient soybean and cowpea genotypes increased subsequent maize yields. Yields of the subsequent maize grown in rotation were significantly correlated with shoot P uptake for which the quantity of P applied with the crop residues of the pre-crop appeared to be a major factor. We also grew the grain legumes in nutrient solutions and measured organic acid-anion exudation from roots, root-surface phosphatase-activity, and root morphological characteristics. Enhanced exudation of organic acid anions from roots of P-deprived plants might have contributed to the P acquisition efficiency under field conditions of the P-efficient cowpea genotypes and one of the P-efficient soybean genotypes. A higher activity of root-surface acid phosphatase might have been important for the other P-efficient soybean genotype. The results show, that the potential positive rotational effect of cowpea and soybean on the acid, highly P-sorbing soils of southern Cameroon depends on breeding and using P-efficient genotypes when sparingly soluble and suboptimal rates of soluble P fertilizers are used. Section Editor: N. J. Barrow     

Genetic improvement for phosphorus efficiency in soybean: a radical approach

Background

Low phosphorus (P) availability is a major constraint to soybean growth and production. Developing P-efficient soybean varieties that can efficiently utilize native P and added P in the soils would be a sustainable and economical approach to soybean production.

Scope

This review summarizes the possible mechanisms for P efficiency and genetic strategies to improve P efficiency in soybean with examples from several case studies. It also highlights potential obstacles and depicts future perspectives in ‘root breeding’.

Conclusions

This review provides new insights into the mechanisms of P efficiency and breeding strategies for this trait in soybean. Root biology is a new frontier of plant biology. Substantial efforts are now focusing on increasing soybean P efficiency through ‘root breeding’. To advance this area, additional collaborations between plant breeders and physiologists, as well as applied and theoretical research are needed to develop more soybean varieties with enhanced P efficiency through root modification, which might contribute to reduced use of P fertilizers, expanding agriculture on low-P soils, and achieving more sustainable agriculture.     

Effects of transgenic soybean on growth and phosphorus acquisition in mixed culture system

Transgenic soybean plants overexpressing the Arabidopsis purple acid phosphatase gene AtPAP15 (OXp) or the soybean expansin gene GmEXPB2 (OXe) can improve phosphorous (P) efficiency in pure culture by increasing Apase secretion or changing root morphology. In this study, soybean‐soybean mixed cultures were employed to illuminate P acquisition among plants in mixed stands of transgenic and wild‐type soybean. Our results showed that transgenic soybean plants were much more competitive, and had greater growth and P uptake than wild‐type soybean in mixed culture in both low P calcareous and acid soils. Furthermore, OXe plants had an advantage in calcareous soils when mixed with OXp, whereas the latter performed much better in acid soils. In soybean‐maize mixed culture, transgenic soybean had no impact on maize growth compared to controls in both acid and calcareous soils with different P conditions. As for soybean in mixed culture, OXp plants had no significant advantages regardless of P availability or soil type, while P efficiency improved in OXe in calcareous soils compared to controls. These results imply that physiological traits could be easily affected by the mixed maize. Transgenic soybean plants with enhanced root traits had more competitive advantages than those with improved root physiology in mixed culture.     

Uptake of phosphate from soils and fertilizers as affected by soil P availability and solubility of phosphorus fertilizers

Fertilizers labelled with ³²P were used to measure amounts of phosphorus, P_s and P_F, taken up by Lolium perenne from available soil P and from P fertilizer respectively, when applied at a rate of 66 mg P·(kg soil^–1) in greenhouse experiments. The quantity P_s of phosphorus taken up from soil in the presence of P fertilizer was compared to the quantity P_o taken up from soil without P fertilizer. The quantity (P_s–P_o) is positive for low P_o values, i.e. in soils poor in available phosphorus, but is negative for high P_o values indicating that an input of P fertilizer can induce a decrease in the utilization of available soil phosphorus. Moreover, for a given soil, the quantity (P_s–P_o) depends on the chemical form of the fertilizer. The standard method of evaluation of P fertilizer efficiency is based on the assumption that P_s=P_o, but P_s can differ from P_o. This result can explain the contradictory data published from field experiments about the efficiency of the various P fertilizers.     

烟气脱硫石膏对滨海农耕土壤磷素形态组成的影响

为探明不同烟气脱硫石膏施用量对滨海农耕土壤中的全磷、有效磷、无机磷组分等的影响,通过田间试验的方式,分别在试验区土壤中施加0t/hm~2、15t/hm~2、30t/hm~2、45t/hm~2烟气脱硫石膏。研究结果表明:与对照组相比,各处理组的土壤全磷含量无显著差异,而土壤中的有效磷和渗滤液中的可溶性磷含量则随着烟气脱硫石膏施入量的增加而降低;施入烟气脱硫石膏后农耕土壤中无机磷含量显著增加,其中又以磷酸钙盐含量的增加为主,磷酸钙盐中的Ca2-P、Ca_8-P和Ca_10-P含量分别增加了30.8%—68.9%、35.2%—66.3%和7.3%—17.8%。烟气脱硫石膏的施用促进了植物的生长发育,有效磷的降低和无机磷组分中磷酸钙盐的增加并未影响到植物对磷素的吸收。因此,烟气脱硫石膏能有效地固定滨海农耕土壤中的溶解态磷,控制土壤过量磷素向水体迁移,降低附近水体富营养化发生的机率,保障区域水体生态系统环境安全。     

Plant and microbial strategies to improve the phosphorus efficiency of agriculture

Background

Agricultural production is often limited by low phosphorus (P) availability. In developing countries, which have limited access to P fertiliser, there is a need to develop plants that are more efficient at low soil P. In fertilised and intensive systems, P-efficient plants are required to minimise inefficient use of P-inputs and to reduce potential for loss of P to the environment.

Scope

Three strategies by which plants and microorganisms may improve P-use efficiency are outlined: (i) Root-foraging strategies that improve P acquisition by lowering the critical P requirement of plant growth and allowing agriculture to operate at lower levels of soil P; (ii) P-mining strategies to enhance the desorption, solubilisation or mineralisation of P from sparingly-available sources in soil using root exudates (organic anions, phosphatases), and (iii) improving internal P-utilisation efficiency through the use of plants that yield more per unit of P uptake.

Conclusions

We critically review evidence that more P-efficient plants can be developed by modifying root growth and architecture, through manipulation of root exudates or by managing plant-microbial associations such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and microbial inoculants. Opportunities to develop P-efficient plants through breeding or genetic modification are described and issues that may limit success including potential trade-offs and trait interactions are discussed. Whilst demonstrable progress has been made by selecting plants for root morphological traits, the potential for manipulating root physiological traits or selecting plants for low internal P concentration has yet to be realised.     

Changes in soil phosphorus fractions following positive and negative phosphorus balances for long periods

The effect of phosphorus (P) balance (addition, in both fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM), minus removal in crops) on eight soil P fractions determined by sequential extraction, was measured on archived soils from various long-term experiments run by Rothamsted Experimental Station in the United Kingdom. It has been established unequivocally that, for all the soils investigated, no one of the eight P fractions was increased or decreased during long periods of P addition or depletion, respectively. However, changes were mainly in the resin (24–30%) and the inorganic (P_i) component of the four fractions extracted sequentially by 0.5 M NaHCO₃, 0.1 M NaOH, 1.0 M NaOH, 0.5 M H₂SO₄ (41–60%). For the sandy loam there were also consistent changes in the organic (P_o) fraction (25%), especially that extracted by bicarbonate, presumably because the soil contained only a little clay and presumably had low sorption capacity. When the soils were cropped without P addition the largest proportional change was in the P extracted by resin, 0.5 M NaHCO₃ and 0.1 M NaOH, suggesting that the P in these fractions is readily available, or has the potential to become available, for crop growth. This was supported by changes in the overall P balance. On the heavier textured soils, 50–80% of the change in total soil P (P_T) was in these fractions; on the sandy soil this increased to more than 90%. The change in the sum of the first five fractions accounted, on average, for 90% of the P balance. However these changes in the P in the plough layer frequently left large amounts of P unaccounted for in some of the excessively P enriched soils. The amount of P_i extracted by resin and bicarbonate (P_i(r+b)) ranged between 14 and 50% of the sum of the P_i fractions. Soils with the lower percentages were those known to be most responsive to P fertilizers. P_i(r+b) accounted for an average of 70% of the P balance (negative) in P depleting soils where crop offtake was not offset or exceeded by annual P additions (positive balance). The ratio between P_i(r+b) and P_i(sum) could be a guide in defining soils deficient in P and those which are excessively enriched.     

Root Respiration,Photosynthesis and Grain Yield of Two Spring Wheat in Response to Soil Drying

The effects of soil water regime and wheat cultivar, differing in drought tolerance with respect to root respiration and grain yield, were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. Two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars, a drought sensitive (Longchun 8139-2) and drought tolerant (Dingxi 24) were grown in PVC tubes (120 cm in length and 10 cm in diameter) under an automatic rain-shelter. Plants were subjected to three soil moisture regimes: (1) well-watered control (85% field water capacity, FWC); (2) moderate drought stress (50% FWC) and (3) severe drought stress (30% FWC). The aim was to study the influence of root respiration on grain yield under soil drying conditions. In the experiment, severe drought stress significantly (p < 0.05) reduced shoot and root biomass, photosynthesis and root respiration rate for both cultivars, but the extent of the decreases was greater for Dingxi 24 compared to that for Longchun 8139-2. Compared with Dingxi 24, 0.04 and 0.07 mg glucose m⁻² s⁻¹ of additional energy, equivalent to 0.78 and 1.43 J m⁻² s⁻¹, was used for water absorption by Longchun 8139-2 under moderate and severe drought stress, respectively. Although the grain yield of both cultivars decreased with declining soil moisture, loss was greater in Longchun 8139-2 than in Dingxi 24, especially under severe drought stress. The drought tolerance cultivar (Dingxi 24), had a higher biomass and metabolic activity under severe drought stress compared to the sensitive cultivar (Longchun 8139-2), which resulted in further limitation of grain yield. Results show that root respiration, carbohydrates allocation (root:shoot ratio) and grain yield were closely related to soil water status and wheat cultivar. Reductions in root respiration and root biomass under severe soil drying can improve drought tolerant wheat growth and physiological activity during soil drying and improve grain yield, and hence should be advantageous over a drought sensitive cultivar in arid regions.