Lignin-carbohydrate complexes from Lolium perenne

Lignin-carbohydrate and lignin-hemicellulose complexes were extracted sequentially from four varieties of Lolium perenne which had previously been     

GIS and Remote Sensing for Detecting Yield Loss in Cranberry Culture

The primary goal of our research is to develop key elements of a precision agriculture program applicable to high-value woody perennial crops, such as cranberries. These crop systems exhibit tremendous variability in crop yields and quality as imposed by variations in soil properties (water availability and nutrient deficiency) that lead to crop stress (disease development and weed competition). Some of the variability present in the growing environment results in persistent yield losses as well as crop-quality reductions. We are using state-of-the-art methodologies (GIS, GPS, remote sensing) to identify and map spatial variations of the crop. Through image-processing methods (NDVI and unsupervised classification), approximately 65% of the variation in yield was described using 4-m multispectral satellite data as a base image.     

Phosphorus nutrition and mycorrhiza effects on grass leaf growth. P status- and size-mediated effects on growth zone kinematics

This study tested whether leaf elongation rate (LER, mm h(-1)) and its components--average relative elemental growth rate (REGRavg, mm mm(-1) h(-1)) and leaf growth zone length (L(LGZ), mm)--are related to phosphorus (P) concentration in the growth zone (P(LGZ) mg P g(-1) tissue water) of Lolium perenne L. cv. Condesa and whether such relationships are modified by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus hoi. Mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants were grown at a range of P supply rates and analysed at either the same plant age or the same tiller size (defined by the length of the sheath of the youngest fully expanded leaf). Both improved P supply (up to 95%) and AMF (up to 21%) strongly increased LER. In tillers of even-aged plants, this was due to increased REGRavg and L(LGZ). In even-sized tillers, it was exclusively due to increased REGRavg. REGRavg was strictly related to P(LGZ) (r2 = 0.95) and independent of tiller size. Conversely, L(LGZ) strictly depended on tiller size (r2 = 0.88) and not on P(LGZ). Hence, P status affected leaf growth directly only through effects on relative tissue expansion rates. Symbiosis with AMF did not modify these relationships. Thus, no evidence for P status-independent effects of AMF on LER was found.     

Development of novel microsatellite markers for the grassland species Lolium multiflorum,Lolium perenne and Festuca pratensis

Twelve microsatellite markers were isolated from Lolium multiflorum. Allelic variability and cross‐species amplification were assessed on 16 individuals of each of the three grassland species L. multiflorum, Lolium perenne and Festuca pratensis. Cross‐species amplification success was 100% for L. perenne and 83% for F. pratensis. The number of alleles detected ranged from one to 14 with an average of 3.4. While three microsatellite loci were polymorphic in all three species, one marker produced species‐specific alleles in all three species. These microsatellite markers provide a valuable tool for population genetic studies within and among species of the Festuca–Lolium complex.     

柠檬酸和EDTA-Na2对黑麦草吸收Pb及营养元素特性的影响

为探究柠檬酸或EDTA-Na_2对Pb污染下黑麦草(Lolium perenne L.)吸收Pb和营养元素特性的影响,对水培黑麦草进行不同处理,研究黑麦草一些生理生化指标的变化。结果表明,与对照相比,Pb处理降低黑麦草干重,增加质膜透性和根系脱氢酶活性,且在叶和根中积累Pb,而叶和根中6种营养元素含量的变化不尽相同。与Pb处理同时加入低浓度的柠檬酸或EDTA-Na_2对其生长影响较小,且叶片的Pb积累量较低;而同时加入高浓度的柠檬酸或EDTA-Na_2,虽然强化Pb在叶片中的积累,但是加重了生长的抑制作用和营养元素的稳态失衡;1 mmol L~(–1)的柠檬酸强化叶片积累Pb的效应强于同浓度的EDTA-Na_2,而5和10 mmol L~(–1)柠檬酸的强化作用则弱于同浓度的EDTA-Na_2。因此,适当浓度的柠檬酸或EDTA-Na_2在治理Pb污染环境中具有一定作用。     

Effects of nitrogen fertilisation rate and maturity of grass silage on methane emission by lactating dairy cows

Grass silage is typically fed to dairy cows in temperate regions. However, in vivo information on methane (CH₄) emission from grass silage of varying quality is limited. We evaluated the effect of two rates of nitrogen (N) fertilisation of grassland (low fertilisation (LF), 65 kg of N/ha; and high fertilisation (HF), 150 kg of N/ha) and of three stages of maturity of grass at cutting: early maturity (EM; 28 days of regrowth), mid maturity (MM; 41 days of regrowth) and late maturity (LM; 62 days of regrowth) on CH₄ production by lactating dairy cows. In a randomised block design, 54 lactating Holstein–Friesian dairy cows (168±11 days in milk; mean±standard error of mean) received grass silage (mainly ryegrass) and compound feed at 80 : 20 on dry matter basis. Cows were adapted to the diet for 12 days and CH₄ production was measured in climate respiration chambers for 5 days. Dry matter intake (DMI; 14.9±0.56 kg/day) decreased with increasing N fertilisation and grass maturity. Production of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM; 24.0±1.57 kg/day) decreased with advancing grass maturity but was not affected by N fertilisation. Apparent total-tract feed digestibility decreased with advancing grass maturity but was unaffected by N fertilisation except for an increase and decrease in N and fat digestibility with increasing N fertilisation, respectively. Total CH₄ production per cow (347±13.6 g/day) decreased with increasing N fertilisation by 4% and grass maturity by 6%. The smaller CH₄ production with advancing grass maturity was offset by a smaller FPCM and lower feed digestibility. As a result, with advancing grass maturity CH₄ emission intensity increased per units of FPCM (15.0±1.00 g CH₄/kg) by 31% and digestible organic matter intake (33.1±0.78 g CH₄/kg) by 15%. In addition, emission intensity increased per units of DMI (23.5±0.43 g CH₄/kg) by 7% and gross energy intake (7.0±0.14% CH₄) by 9%, implying an increased loss of dietary energy with advancing grass maturity. Rate of N fertilisation had no effect on CH₄ emissions per units of FPCM, DMI and gross energy intake. These results suggest that despite a lower absolute daily CH₄ production with a higher N fertilisation rate, CH₄ emission intensity remains unchanged. A significant reduction of CH₄ emission intensity can be achieved by feeding dairy cows silage of grass harvested at an earlier stage of maturity.     

The role of seed limitation and resource availability in the recruitment of native perennial grasses and exotics in a South Australian grassland

Abstract We investigated what factors lead to invasion of exotics or re‐colonization of native perennial grasses in the South Australian mid‐north grasslands. We manipulated 160 experimental quadrats by clipping, irrigation and seed addition and assessed recruitment by exotics in an area dominated by perennial grasses and perennial grass recruitment in an area dominated by exotics. Treatment effects differed with season for exotics: their biomass increased with irrigation in autumn and seed addition in winter. However, in both periods other factors, probably soil properties, also had a strong effect. We detected no perennial grass seedlings in the quadrats over 1 year, possibly due to unsuitable environmental conditions or persistent high competition levels. Under controlled conditions the presence of the invasive annual Avena barbata had a strong negative effect on the recruitment of the native perennial Austrodanthonia caespitosa at any moisture and nutrient availability. Avena also germinated faster and more frequently than Austrodanthonia, especially at low soil moisture. During an imposed drought Austrodanthonia seedlings survived longer in the absence of Avena. The results suggest that annual exotics are highly responsive to resources and can quickly invade areas, while the re‐colonization of invaded areas by native grasses requires a complex (and less likely) rainfall regime.     

Life‐history traits and geographical divergence in wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) gene pool in Indochina Peninsula region

Indochina Peninsula is the primary centre of diversity of rice and lies partly in the centre of origin of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) where the wild ancestor (Oryza rufipogon) is still abundant. The wild gene pool is potentially endangered by urbanisation and the expansion of agriculture, and by introgression hybridisation with locally cultivated rice varieties. To determine genetic diversity and structure of the wild rice of the region we genotyped nearly 1000 individuals using 20 microsatellite loci. We found ecological differentiation in 48 populations, distinguishable by their life‐history traits and the country of origin. Geographical divergence was suggested by isolation of the perennial Myanmar populations from those of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. The annual types would be most likely to have lost genetic variation because of genetic drift and inbreeding. The growing of cultivated and wild rice together, however, gives ample opportunities for hybridisation, which already shows signs of genetic mixing, and will ultimately lead to replacement of the original wild rice gene pool. For conservation we suggest that wild rice should be conserved ex situ in order to prevent introgression from cultivated rice, along with in situ conservation in individual countries for the recurrent evolutionary process through local adaptation, but with sufficient isolation from cultivated rice fields to preserve genetic integrity of the wild populations.