Variation in the Agronomic and Morphological Traits of Iranian Chickpea Accessions

Landraces of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Iran have not been adequately characterized for their agronomic and morphological traits. Such characterization would be helpful in the development of improved cultivars, so in this study 362 chickpea accessions, collected from the major chickpea growing areas of Iran, were evaluated to determine their phenotypic diversity. High coefficients of variation (CVs)were recorded in pods/branch, seeds/pod, yield/plant, seeds/plant, pods/plant and branches/plant. Using principal component (PC) analysis, the first four PCs with eigenvalues more than 1 contributed 84.10% of the variability among accessions, whereas PC5 to PC10 were less than unity. PC1 was positively related to days to first maturity, days to 50% flowering and days to 50% maturity. The characters with the greatest weight on PC2 were seeds/plant and yield/plant, whereas PC3 was mainly related to pods/plant, seeds/pod and 100-seed weight, and PC4 was positively related to pods/branch and negatively to branches/plant. The germplasm was grouped into four clusters using cluster analysis. Each cluster had some specific characteristics of its own and the cluster I was clearly separated from clusters Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ. These accessions are an important resource for the establishment of a core collection of chickpeas in the world.     

Diversity of pea (Pisum sativum) accessions based on morphological data for sustainable field pea breeding in Argentina

We characterized 13 accessions of dry peas of different origins from various growing regions in Argentina, based on three replications of 20 plants cultivated in 2009 and 2010 in a greenhouse, with the objective of selecting those with favorable characteristics for use in breeding programs. Significant differences were found for length and width of stipule and pod, length of the internodes and leaflets, plant height, total number of nodes, number of nodes at the first pod, number of days to flowering and to harvest, number of pods and seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and grain diameter, demonstrating a high degree of genetic variability. Phenotypic correlation analysis demonstrated that large pods produced more seeds per pod, but the seed weight decreased. Plants with smaller number of nodes in the first pod were more productive. Estimates of genotypic correlation coefficients indicated a strong inherent association among the different traits. Clustering methods grouped the accessions into five clusters. Cluster 5 included two accessions and showed the highest values for length and width of stipules (4.9 and 4.5 cm, respectively), length of leaflets (7.43 cm) and days to flowering (122.6), while cluster 3, with one accession, and cluster 4, with two accessions, showed the highest values for number of seeds per pod (3.78 and 4.39), number of pods per plant (5.33 and 5.70), length of pods (5.54 and 5.72 cm), and width of pods (1.21 and 1.20 cm, respectively). We conclude that accessions in clusters 3 and 4 would be useful for crosses with other cultivars in pea breeding programs.     

Diversity in greengram (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) germplasm collection and its potential use in crop improvement

Greengram or mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek), which originated in the Indian sub-continent, is an important pulse crop in India. Genetic diversity and patterns of variation among 111 accessions representing the better agronomic types from the entire collection of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources were studied. Wide variation in morphological and agronomic traits viz. number of pods per plant, yield per plant, 100-seed weight, fruit setting capacity, flowering period, maturity, number of pod bearing peduncles, plant height, number of primary branches, length of branch, nodulation and leafiness was observed. Grain yield was found to be significantly correlated with 100-seed weight and pod length. The data were subjected to cluster and principal components analysis. The accessions were grouped into six discrete and well-defined clusters. The study demonstrated the patterns of variation at the population level. The multivariate analysis was useful in identifying a group of accessions with yield enhancing traits within a highly diverse group of accessions and their potential value in greengram improvement is suggested.     

绿豆5个产量相关性状的QTL分析

利用绿豆(Vigna radiata)品种苏绿16-10和潍绿11杂交构建的F2和F3群体发掘调控绿豆产量相关性状的遗传位点。同时对绿豆产量相关性状进行表型鉴定和相关性分析,并利用构建的遗传连锁图谱进行QTL定位。结果表明,单株产量与单株荚数、单荚粒数、百粒重和分枝数均呈正相关。单株产量与单株荚数的相关性最高,这2个性状在F2和F3群体中的相关系数分别为0.950和0.914。在F2群体中,共检测到8个与产量性状相关的QTL位点,其中与单株荚数、单荚粒数和单株产量相关的QTL位点各1个,分别解释11.09%(qNPP3)、17.93%(qNSP3)和14.18%(qYP3)的表型变异;2个与分枝数相关的QTL位点qBMS3和qBMS11,分别解释18.51%和7.06%的表型变异;3个与百粒重相关的QTL位点qHSW3、qHSW7和qHSW10,分别解释5.33%、46.07%和4.24%的表型变异。在F3群体中,qNSP3和qHSW7再次被检测到,表明这2个QTLs有较好的遗传稳定性。同时,开发了1个与百粒重主效QTLqHSW7紧密连锁的InDel标记R7-13.4,并利用自然群体对...     

An automated greenhouse sand culture system suitable for studies of P nutrition

Abstract. Maintenance of realistically low solution P concentrations under controlled conditions is a major difficulty in studies of P nutrition. In this report, we describe a relatively simple and economical sand culture system capable of sustaining plant growth to maturity under controlled yet realistic P regimes. The system uses Al₂O₃ as a solid-phase P buffer, and modern process control technology to control irrigation and addition of other mineral nutrients. Aspects of the design, use and potential applications of automated solid-phase systems are discussed. The system was used to grow Phaseolus vulgaris to matarity at 0.4 mmol m³, 1.0 mmol m³ and 27 mmol m³ P with and without mycorrhizal inoculation. At flowering, low solution P concentrations were associated with reduced leaf concentrations of P in nonmycorrhizal plants, and reduced leaf concentrations of Ca in both mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased leaf P, K, Mg and Mn concentrations, but reduced leaf N concentration. Low P regimes reduced final seed yield by diminishing both the number of pods per plant and the number of seeds per pod. Mycorrhizal inoculation significantly enhanced seed yield under low P regimes by increasing seed weight, the number of pods per plant, and the number of seeds per pod.     

CO2 enrichment of soybeans. Effects of leaf/pod ratio

The effect of varying leaf number on response of soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Fiskeby V) to CO₂ enrichment was studied. Plants were trimmed at pod set to 15 pods and 1 or 3 leaves (15:1 and 5:1 pod/leaf ratio) and placed in 350 or 1000 μl/l CO₂ growth chambers. Photosynthetic rates and dry weights were measured 6 times in all plants at each CO₂ concentration over a period of 39 days. Measured at treatment CO₂ concentration, photosynthetic rates deelined rapidly in enriched plants, but remained higher than those of non-enriched plants. When all plants were measured at the same CO₂ concentration, for most sampling dates, neither growth, CO₂ concentration or pod/leaf ratio significantly affected rates of photosynthesis per unit area of comparable leaves. CO₂ enrichment significantly increased total weights and pod weights in 15:1 but not 5:1 pod/leaf ratio plants. Plants with a 5:1 pod/leaf ratio had significantly higher total and pod weights than 15:1 ratio plants. Both the photosynthesis and dry weight data suggest that plants in the 5:1 ratio enriched treatment were sink-limited, but plants in all other treatments were source limited.     

Role of endogenous gibberellins in germination of melon (Cucumis melo) seeds

The effect of the plant growth retardants ancymidol. mefluidide and uniconazole on germination of two melon accessions differing in their ability to germinate at 14°C was examined. The accessions were the cold sensitive Noy Yizre'el and the cold tolerant Persia 202. The three growth retardants were able to delay the germination of intact Noy Yizre'el seeds, but did not affect that of intact Persia 202 seeds. On the other hand germination of decoated seeds of both accessions was unaffected by these inhibitors at normal oxygen concentration, but was inhibited at 5% oxygen. When gibberellin-like activity was measured by a dwarf rice biological assay following HPLC fractionation, it was found that seeds of Persia 202 contained much more gibberellin-like activity than Noy Yizre'el seeds. Among the extracted compounds several endogenous gibberellins were identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). They included GA₄, GA₂₀, GA₁ and GA₃ in Noy Yizre'el and GA₃₄, GA₂₀, GA₁ and GA₈ in Persia 202. It is suggested that the better germination of intact Persia 202 seeds, compared to Noy Yizre'el seeds at low temperature and low oxygen concentration, is due to a higher endogenous level of GA and a better seed coat permeability to oxygen.     

Distribution and remobilization of symbiotically fixed nitrogen in soybean (Glycine max)

Partitioning of nitrogen by soybeans ( Glycine max L. Merr. cv. Hodgson) grown in natural conditions was studied by successive exposures of root systems to ¹⁵N₂ and periodical measurements of ¹⁵N distribution. Nitrogen derived from the atmosphere was mainly found in the aerial parts of the plants, and the stage of development exerted a strong influence on the initial ¹⁵N distribution (measured one week after incorporation). Until day 69 after sowing, leaf blades contained 47 to 57% of the fixed N. After that, reproductive structures attracted increasing proportions, 10 to 60% between days 69 and 92. Around day 82, stems and petioles stored up to 30% of the newly fixed N. During pod development and pod filling and until maturity, fixed N was remobilized from vegetative tissues and pod walls to seeds. These transfers first concerned the newly incorporated N, but at maturity 80 to 90% of the total was recovered in the seeds. The high mobility of N originating from the atmosphere as compared to that coming from the soil (vegetative tissues exported only 50% of their total N) seems to indicate that fixed N was at least partially integrated in a special pool. This was certainly the case at the later stage of N₂ fixation, when a large portion of fixed N accumulated in the stems and petioles, probably in the form of storage compounds such as ureides for later transfer to the developing seeds. Further research is needed in order to investigate the nature and role of this pool in the nitrogen nutrition of soybeans.     

Toxicity of arsenate in Silene vulgaris, accumulation and degradation of arsenate-induced phytochelatins

The results presented in this paper describe the short- and long-term toxicity of arsenate in Silene vulgaris . Short-term toxicity, measured as inhibition of root elongation, depended on phosphate nutrition, arsenate being much less toxic at high phosphate supply. At low phosphate levels more arsenic was taken up by the plants. Under chronic exposure, toxicity (measured as inhibition of biomass production) did not increase with time. In addition, the accumulation of phytochelatins (PCs) as a function of toxicity and duration of exposure was studied. Short-term PC accumulation (over a 3 d period) was positively correlated with exposure. Isolation of peptide complexes from prolongedly exposed plants showed that PC₂, PC₃ and PC₄ were present, although the latter not until at least 3 d exposure. Arsenic co-eluted mainly with PC₂ and PC₃. Fractions containing PC₄ were devoid of As, probably due to dissociation of the complexes during extraction or elution. The breakdown of PCs after arresting As exposure was very slow. This could explain the continuous accumulation of PCs throughout longer periods of As exposure.     

Pathway and regulation of phosphate translocation to the pods of soybean explants

We investigated the degree to which developing fruit compete directly with leaves for mineral nutrients, e.g. phosphate coming up from the roots. When soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merrill cv. Anoka) explants cut at mid-late podfill were given a 15-min pulse of ³²Pi via the cut stem and then transferred to distilled water, 75% of the ³²P accumulated in the leaves and 21% in stem and petiole during the first hour. The amount of ³²P entering the seeds was low (1%) initially, but thereafter increased to 30% in 48 h. An accumulation of ³²P in the seed coats preceded its entry into the embryos. Disruption (with hot steam) of the phloem between the leaf and the pods after pulse labelling indicated that more than 80% of the ³²Pi pulse moved to the leaf before redistribution to the pods. Increasing "sink" size by adjusting the pod load from 1 to 2–3 did not increase the ³²P accumulated by the pods proportionally. Conversely, excision of the seeds after pulse labelling did not prevent translocation of ³²P out of the leaves. These results suggest that the rate of transport of phosphate to the pods at mid-late podfill is controlled primarily by factors in the leaves. The results are consistent with the observation that the relative size of the sink (pod load) does not regulate leaf senescence.     

Factor analysis in clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub)

Summary The pattern of diversity in forty genotypes of clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub) was analysed using the centroid method of factor analysis based on nine characters. Three factors were found to adequately account for most of the intercorrelations in the four environments. Branches, clusters, pods and seed yield/plant could be grouped as productivity factors; days to flowering, maturity and plant height as growth factors; seeds/pod and gum content as economic factor. Interestingly, the constitution of the factors were the same in all the environments. The loadings on the economic factors were relatively unstable, whereas the loadings on productivity and growth factors were stable. It is concluded that productivity and growth factors play a pivotal role towards diversity in clusterbean. The results of factor analysis provides confirmatory evidence of diversity in clusterbean, which was earlier studied by using generalized distance, and thus proves the adequacy of the centroid method in biological investigations.     

CO2 enrichment, drought stress and growth of Alaska pea plants (Pisum sativum)

The interaction of CO₂ enrichment and drought on water status and growth of pea plants was investigated. Pisum sativum L. (cv. Alaska) plants were grown from seeds in growth chambers using 350 and 675 μl I1 CO₂, a photon flux density of 600 μmol M-2 S-1, a 16 h photoperiod and a temperature regime of 20/14°C. The drought treatment was started at the beginning of branch initiation and lasted for 9 or 11 days. The water status of the plants was monitored daily by measuring total leaf water potential and stomatal conductance. The total leaf water potential of well-watered plants was not affected by the CO₂ level. Under draughting conditions total leaf water potential decreased, with a slower decrease under the high CO₂ regime, due, at least in part, to reduced stomatal conductance. Upon rewatering, total leaf water potential and stomatal conductance recovered within one day. High CO₂ counteracted the reduction in height and, to some extent, leaf area that developed in low CO₂ unwatered plants. Additional CO₂ had no effect on branch number and did not prevent the complete inhibition of branch development that resulted from drought stress. Removing the drought conditions resulted in a rapid recovery of the internal water status and also a rapid recovery of most, but not all, plant growth parameters.     

适宜河北省旱寒区的冬油菜品种的筛选

筛选适宜河北省低平原地区种植的油菜品种,同时实现生态效益和经济效益,为相似气候区油菜品种的种植选择及种植结构的调整提供理论依据。以16个油菜品种为材料,对品种间农艺性状的变化进行方差分析、相关性分析和聚类分析。各品种间分枝部位存在差异,变异系数为61.82%,品种JR5分枝部位最低,14T×38最高;其次差异较为明显的是产量和二次分枝数,变异系数分别为26.69%和24.89%,14T×38产量最高,20SY-13最低。二次分枝数最大和最小的品种分别为20SY-13和天油142。油菜产量与一次分枝数和主花序角果数呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),株高与分枝部位、主花序长度和主花序角果数呈显著正相关关系,一次分枝数与主花序角果数呈显著正相关(P<0.05),二次分枝数与主花序角果数呈极显著负相关。当欧式距离为5时,16个油菜品种可分为五大类。选择株高较高、一次分枝数和主花序角果数较多、二次分枝数较少且可以在当地正常越冬的油菜品种进行种植,可以获得较高水平产量;20SY-13在当地秋季种植应注意安全越冬。     

Comparisons of Earlier- and Later-formed Pods of Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.)

In chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) flowering and pod developmentproceed acropetally. In plants grown under normal field conditionsat Hyderabad, in peninsular India, and at Hissar in north India,at successively apical nodes of the branches there was a declinein pod number per node, weight per pod, seed number per podand/or weight per seed. The percentage of nitrogen in the seedswas the same in earlier and later-formed pods at Hyderabad;at Hissar the later-formed seeds contained a higher percentage.Earlier- and later-formed flowers contained similar numbersof ovules. The decline in seed number and/or weight per seedin the later-formed pods of 28 out of 29 cultivars indicatedthat pod-filling was limited by the supply of assimilates orother nutrients. By contrast, in one exceptionally small-seededcultivar there was no decline in the number or weight of seedsin later-formed pods, indicating that yield was limited by ‘sink’size. Cicer arietinum L., chickpea, flowering, pod development, seed number, seed weight, nitrogen content     

A Physiological Analysis of the Branching Pattern in Sequential Types of Groundnut in Relation to the Fruiting Nodes and the Total Mature Pods Produced

The branching pattern of eight sequential branching types ofgroundnut was studied and the contribution of each node (fruitingpoint) of the n, n+1 and n+2 branches (if present) to the totalnumber of mature pods per plant ascertained. The results indicatedthat n+2 branches were present in several varieties and theircontribution to mature pods was significant in some of them.The first three nodes of the n+1 branches contributed from 50.6per cent (in a variety which had significantly more n+2 branches)to 88 per cent in other varieties. The results also indicatedthat the contribution of the late formed n+1 branches was lowand the total mature pods produced from all nodes decreasedwith each successive (chronologically) n+1 branch in all thevarieties studied. Neither the total number of n+1 branchesnor the number of mature pods per node was related to the podnumber or pod yield, but the total number of fruiting pointsfrom all branches showed a high correlation with pod yield andmature pod number at harvest. The results suggest that for higherpod yield it may be desirable to have only a few n+1 branches(4 or 5) but with more fruiting points on each branch. Arachis hypogaea, branching pattern, sequential types, fruiting points     

Density Studies on Lupins. II. Components of Seed Yield

Components of seed yield of cv. Ultra (Lupinus albus L.) andcv. Unicrop (L. angustifolius L.) were measured when grown atthree densities. The low density (10 plants m^–2) Unicropyield (34 g seed per plant) was 1.8 times that of Ultra as ithad more branches, pods and seeds per pod. Ultra seeds (310mg per seed) were heavier than Unicrop seeds (180 mg). The branchingpattern of Ultra was less dependent on plant density, henceat 93 plants m^–2 it gave a higher per plant yield (7.4vs 6.4 g) than Unicrop at lower densities (83 plants m^–2).Density had most influence on pod formation and only small effectson seeds per pod and seed weight. Yield components on the main-steminflorescence were influenced less by density than componentson branch inflorescences. Later formed, higher order generationsof inflorescences were most affected by increased inter- andintra-plant competition. Pod numbers on the main-stem were similarfor both species. Pods formed at higher flower nodes in Unicrop,but the lower flower nodes were less fertile than those in Ultra.Node position of flowers had no influence on seed set in main-stemUnicrop pods, but pods from higher nodes in Ultra formed fewerseeds. Seed weights in Unicrop were similar among main-stemnodes but in Ultra seed weights tended to increase at highernodes. Lupinus spp, lupins, seed yield, planting density     

不同绿豆突变体主要农艺性状的多元遗传分析

对12个绿豆突变体的10个主要农艺性状进行了相关分析、主成份分析及聚类分析.分析结果表明：10个主要农艺性状的变异系数为16.01%（单株荚数）～3.64%（荚宽）.相关分析表明单株荚数与单株产量呈极显著的正相关;百粒重与单株产量呈显著的负相关;生育期与单株产量呈极显著的负相关.主成分分析结果表明前4个主成分（产量构成因子、单荚粒数因子、株型因子和荚宽因子）对变异的贡献率达87.45%;聚类分析后把12个绿豆突变体分为5类,各类之间单株产量差异明显.在绿豆突变体的选择中只有把不同性状综合考虑进去,才能够真正选择出性状优良的突变体.     

野生小豆种质资源植株形态性状多样性分析

对来自中国、日本、韩国、缅甸4国的55份野生型、40份半野生型小豆种质资源植株形态性状的多样性进行分析,结果表明,野生型小豆与半野生型小豆在株高、平均成熟期、子粒颜色、百粒重等性状方面有明显的差别。95份小豆种质资源通过聚类分析,截值为1.488时可划分为5大类群。来源于缅甸和中国的野生型小豆种质各聚为1个类群,韩国和日本的种质混聚为3个类群。缅甸种质具平均成熟期长、茎秆粗、主茎分枝数多、百粒重轻等特点。中国贵州野生型种质植株较高、茎秆较细、单荚粒数较多、平均成熟期较长。日本野生型种质具有丰产特征。日本和韩国的半野生型小豆,平均成熟期较其他类群早、百粒重高、明度指数高。     

Effects of inoculum concentration, leaf age and wetness period on the development of dark leaf and pod spot (Alternaria brassicae) on oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

Experiments were done under controlled environment and glasshouse conditions to study the effects of inoculum concentration, leaf age and wetness period on the development of dark leaf and pod spot (Alternaria brussicae) on oilseed rape (Brassica napus). On leaves of potted oilseed rape plants (cv. Bienvenu) inoculated with A. brassicae conidial suspensions, the severity (number of lesions cm^-2) of dark leaf spot increased as inoculum concentration increased from 80 to 660 spores ml^-1and as leaf age increased from 4 to 14 days. On pods on detached racemes of spring oilseed rape (cv. Starlight), the incidence of dark pod spot (% of pods diseased) increased as inoculum concentration increased from 80 to 10⁴spores ml^-1. Increasing inoculum concentration above 10⁴spores ml^-1did not increase the incidence but did increase the severity of dark pod spot. A minimum wetness period of 4 h was needed for infection of oilseed rape leaves (cv. Envol) by A. brussicue at 18°C and disease severity increased with increasing wetness period up to 12 h. The length of dry interruptions after 3–8 h of initial wetness affected the severity of dark leaf spot. A second wetness period increased the severity of dark leaf spot if the dry interruption was ≤ 6 h and if the first wetness period was ≤ 8 h. The incubation period of A. brassicae decreased from 3.5 to 2.5 days as inoculum concentration increased from 80 to 660 spores ml^-on leaves (cv. Bienvenu) at 17–25°C and from 3.8 to 1.0 day as inoculum concentration increased from 80 to ≥2 ≥ 10³spores ml^-1on pods (cv. Starlight) at 18°C.     

Phenotypic variation in the agronomic and morphological traits of Pisum sativum L. germplasm obtained from different parts of the world

A total of 286 genotypes were collected from 39 countries of the world and were evaluated to determine the phenotypic diversity for 17 quantitative traits. Higher degree of coefficient of variation were recorded for grain yield(-5) (52.46%), biomass(-5) (45.73%), fresh pod width(-10) (47.24%), dry pod weight(-1) (40.33%), plant height(-1) (35.25%), harvest index (32.70%) and number of branches(-5). Cluster-II clearly reflected that late genotypes were having lightest pods weight, shortest pod width, and pod length; low grain yield, biomass and harvest index. While genotypes in Cluster-III were in contrast to Cluster-II having heaviest pods weight, longest pods width and length, highest grain yield, biomass and harvest index. Higher PC(-1) values have been determined for days to flower initiation which consequently were contributing weighed positive to days to pods picking, days to flower completion, days to dry pod appearance, days to plant harvesting while negatively contributed to yield producing traits, indicating that late flowering pea germplasm emphasizes more on the vegetative growth and was low yielding. However, higher PC(-2) values have been obtained for number of branches(-5), grain yield and biomass while lower values for days to flowering, days to pods picking, days to flower completion, days to dry pod appearance and days to plant harvesting confirming the fact that early genotypes were high yielding.