Nitrate and ammonium absorption by plants growing at a sufficient or insufficient level of phosphorus in nutrient solutions

Summary Absorption of nitrate and ammonium was studied in water culture experiments with 4 to 6 weeks old plants of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L. Moench) and rape (Brassica napus L.). The plants were grown in a complete nutrient solution with nitrate (5.7±0.2 mM) or nitrate (5.6±0.2 mM) + ammonium (0.04±0.02 mM). The pH of the nutrient solution was kept at 5.0 using a pH-stat. It was found that phosphorus deficiency reduced the rate of nitrate uptake by 58±3% when nitrate was the sole N source and by 83±1% when both nitrate and ammonium were present. The reduction occurred even before growth was significantly impeded by P deficiency. The inhibition of the uptake of ammonium was less,i.e. ammonium constituted 10±1% of the total N uptake in the P sufficient plants and 30±5% in the P deficient plants. The reduction of nitrate absorption greatly decreased the difference between the uptake of anions and cations. It is suggested that P deficiency reduced the assimilation of NO ₃ ^– into the proteins, which might cause a negative feedback on NO ₃ ^– influx and/or stimulate NO ₃ ^– efflux.     

Chemical composition of whole plant and grain and yield of nutrients in grain of five barley cultivars

Summary twenty seven field experiments were conducted to determine if there were differences between five barley cultivars in their ability to utilize soil nutrients. There were significant differences among cultivars in yield of grain and in concentration of all macro and micro nutrients examined in both the whole plant and grain.Gateway ranked the highest for the concentration of Na, Mn, and Cu in the whole plant and was among the cultivars with highest concentration of Ca, Fe, and Zn. Centennial had generally the lowest concentration of all the nutrients determined in the whole plant. For the concentrations of Na, Mg, and Cu in grain Gateway ranked highest, but ranked third for the concentrations of K, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Zn in grain. Galt had the highest K and Mg concentration and lowest Mn, Cu and Zn concentration in grain. Except for K concentration in grain, Centennial had the lowest concentrations of all other cationic nutrients in grain.Yield of grain rather than nutrient concentration was the most important criteria in determining the ranking of nutrient yields per hectare. Because of its high grain yield, Bonanza produced the largest yield of micronutrient cations and was second to Galt in production of macronutrient cations, although it was lowest in macronutrient cation concentration. Similarly, Bonanza and Galt had the lowest protein concentration, but produced the highest yield of protein per hectare.The implications for animal nutrition of different levels of nutrients between cultivars are discussed.     

Comparison of rates of natural senescence of the root cortex of wheat (with and without mildew infection), barley,oats and rye

Summary In comparative tests in a glasshouse, the cortex of oat and rye roots senesced more slowly than the cortex of wheat and barley roots. Of the cereals tested, wheat showed the most rapid rate of root cortical senescence, and the rate was unaffected by inoculation of leaves withErysiphe graminis. The results are discussed in relation to infection by root pathogens.     

Effects of CCC and GA on internodal development of barley

Summary The effect of applying (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (CCC) or gibberellic acid (GA) as foliar sprays on internodal development of barley was studied. CCC applied to the whole plant at main tiller leaf stages 1, 2 or 3 decreased shoot elongation, and prevented elongation of internode 6 (internode 5 subtended the head). CCC at all stages delayed senescence of the lower leaves. CCC sprayed at all 6 leaf stages and GA sprayed at main tiller leaf stages 1, 2, 3 or 4 reduced plant height at maturity. GA treatment at leaf stages 2, 3 or 4 initially stimulated internodal elongation; elongation of later developed internodes was inhibited resulting in shorter plants at maturity. Only the treatment with GA at leaf stages 5 and 6 resulted in increased plant height.     

大麦条纹花叶病毒新疆株(BSMV-XJ)RNA_2的cDNA克隆及5′端序列分析

分离了大麦条纹花叶病毒(BSMV)新疆株基因组的3个RNA组份。以RNA2为模板,3′端互补寡核苷酸为引物,合成了第一条cDNA链和第二条cDNA链,将ds-cDNA重组在pUC9质粒中,转化大肠杆菌细胞,获得含RNA3′端的克隆,并证明所选克隆的cDNA含有新疆株几近全长的RNA2组份。对于插入片段为3.3kbp的112号克隆进行了酶谱分析,得到了与国外典型株类似的结果;用双脱氧终止法分析了相当于RNA 2 5′端250bp的cDNA酶切片段,表明与国外典型株有十分相似的一级结构。     

Control of barley root respiration

Evidence from barley [ Hordeum distichum (L.) Lam. cv. Maris Mink], and from many other species, suggests that respiration is controlled by either supply of carbohydrate or demand for ATP. The relationship between root respiration rate (measured as O₂ consumption or CO₂ production) and ethanol-soluble carbohydrate content altered with time following selective pruning, and the change could not be accounted for by buffering of the cytoplasmic carbohydrate concentration by sugars in the vacuole. Exogenous sucrose supplied to the roots prevented any decline of the respiration rate in shoot-pruned plants, and if supplied for 24 h stimulated the respiration rate after any treatment. Root extension responded to sucrose in a similar manner. We suggest that respiration is under fine control by adenylates, but the capacity of the respiratory system is fixed by the supply of sucrose, possibly via coarse control of the respiratory machinery, or of the processes requiring metabolic energy.     

Localization of α-amylase isozymes within the endomembrane system of barley aleurone

Summary The localization of -amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Himalaya) aleurone protoplasts was studied using electron microscope immunocytochemistry. Antibodies were raised against total barley -amylase, i.e., -amylase containing both highisoelectric point (high-pI) and low-pI isoforms, as well as against purified high- and low-pI isoforms. All antibodies localized -amylase to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus (GApp) of the aleurone cell, and various controls showed that the labeling was specific for -amylase. Labeling of protein bodies and spherosomes, which are the most abundant organelles in this cell, was very low. There was no evidence that -amylase isoforms were differentially distributed within different compartments of the endomembrane system. Rather, both high- and low-pI isoforms showed the same pattern of distribution in ER and in the cis, medial, and transregions of the GApp. We conclude that in the Himalaya cultivar of barley, all isoforms of -amylase are transported to the plasma membrane via the GApp.Abbreviations ER endoplasmic reticulum - GA₃ gibberellic acid - GApp Golgi apparatus - PBS phosphate buffered saline - PCR partially coated reticulum - PM plasma membrane - TBS Tris buffered saline - TGN trans-Golgi network     

Quantitative phenotypical expression of three mutant genes in barley and the basis for defining an ideotype for Mediterranean environments

Summary Three mutants induced in the two-rowed barley variety Beka and their three binary recombinants have been used in an attempt to define an ideotype suitable for Mediterranean agroclimatic conditions. Physiological methods (classical plant growth analysis) together with the study of genotype x environment interaction for grain yield were used to characterize the genotypes. That characterization brought out the huge phenotypical variation produced by only three mutant genes, suggesting that single Mendelian genes may alone explain the quantitative variation, including grain yield, without the necessity of using the polygenic concept. The genotype best adapted to the environments studied is later in heading and has shorter straw and denser spikes than Beka; it also has higher inverse of leaf area rate and grain: leaf area ratio, a lower rate of leaf senescence, and a shorter grain filling period than the original variety.