Photosynthesis in Two Wheat Cultivars Differing in Salt Susceptibility

Salinised (150 mM NaCl for 15 d) roots excised from salt sensitive wheat cultivar Giza 163 showed about 15-fold increase in the ratio of Na/K while salt tolerant Sakha 92 exhibited only 7.5-fold increase compared to their control ratios. Root ratio of saturated/unsaturated fatty acids was stimulated twice in the sensitive cultivar versus 1.7-fold increase in the tolerant ones. Salinity enhanced greatly the accumulation of spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd) contents associated with a decrease in putrescine (Put) content in both wheat cultivars. Higher ratios of Spm+Spd/Put associated with lower content of proline and low ethylene evolution were detected in shoots and roots of salt tolerant cultivar. Chlorophyll a/b ratio showed an increase from 1.3 in control of both cultivars to 1.6 and 1.4 in stressed Giza 163 and Sakha 92, respectively. A reduced Hill reaction activity (19 %) was observed in stressed chloroplasts isolated from leaves of the tolerant cultivar versus 40 % inhibition in the sensitive ones. Moreover, chloroplasts isolated from stressed leaves of the sensitive cultivar showed about 25 % reduction in fluorescence emission at 685 nm as well as shifts in the peaks in the visible region.     

Resistance of new Polish cultivar Awizo F1 to late blight

Two different types of resistance introduced into cultivar Awizo F₁ resulted in good quality high marketable yield with very limited chemical protection against late blight. Cultivars Granit and Lima gave good yield only in condition of full chemical protection. Awizo F₁ did not differ much from Granit and Lima, typical processing varieties in the content of dry matters, sugar and vitamin C. High chemical quality of fruits tested of all cultivar indicated their suitability both for processing and fresh market.     

Tiller expansion and retranslocation of previously absorbed nitrogen among main stems,tillers and roots of two barley cultivars

Barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L. cvs Hellas and Kajsa), grown in nutrient solutions, were supplied with¹⁵NO ₃ ⁻ from day 12 to day 16. Changes in distribution of¹⁵N between different plant parts were followed during ageing, (days 16, 28 and 52) to study differences in redistribution of N induced by variation in NO ₃ ⁻ supply and choice of cultivar. Main stems and tillers competed for previously absorbed N and their competitive strength depended on their growth rate. Inhibition of tillering during N stress protected the main stem from detrimental losses of a limiting resource. Tillers on Hellas received in most cases proportionally more¹⁵N from the rest of the plant than tillers on Kajsa.     

Tolerance of rice to nickel in nutrient solution

For screening tolerance of six cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa) to different concentrations of nickel (0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 μg dm3), growth parameters (root and shoot length, root and shoot dry matter production) and root and shoot tolerance indexes were tested after 7, 10 and 13 d of treatment. In presence of nickel in nutrient solution, root growth of cv. Nilgiri was enhanced, while in cvs. Subhadra, Khandagiri, Rudra, Sankar and Annapurna it decreased. The root tolerance index (RTI) and shoot tolerance index (STI) in cv. Nilgiri were high; cvs. Sankar and Khandagiri, however, showed a low RTI. Based on the standard growth parameters, six cultivars of rice were ranked in respect of their tolerance to nickel: Nilgiri > Annapurna > Subhadra > Khandagiri > Rudra > Sankar. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fungal Avirulence Genes: Structure and Possible Functions

Avirulence (Avr) genes exist in many fungi that share a gene-for-gene relationship with their host plant. They represent unique genetic determinants that prevent fungi from causing disease on plants that possess matching resistance (R) genes. Interaction between elicitors (primary or secondary products ofAvrgenes) and host receptors in resistant plants causes induction of various defense responses often involving a hypersensitive response.Avrgenes have been successfully isolated by reverse genetics and positional cloning. Five cultivar-specificAvrgenes (Avr4,Avr9, andEcp2 fromCladosporium fulvum; nip1fromRhynchosporium secalis;andAvr2-YAMOfromMagnaporthe grisea) and three species-specificAvrgenes (PWL1andPWL2fromM. griseaandinf1fromPhytophthora infestans) have been cloned. Isolation of additionalAvrgenes from these fungi, but also from other fungi such asUromyces vignae,Melampsora lini, Phytophthora sojae,andLeptosphaeria maculans,is in progress. Molecular analyses of nonfunctionalAvrgene alleles show that these originate from deletions or mutations in the open reading frame or the promoter sequence of anAvrgene. Although intrinsic biological functions of mostAvrgene products are still unknown, recent studies have shown that twoAvrgenes,nip1andEcp2, encode products that are important pathogenicity factors. All fungalAvrgenes cloned so far have been demonstrated or predicted to encode extracellular proteins. Current studies focus on unraveling the mechanisms of perception of avirulence factors by plant receptors. The exploitation ofAvrgenes and the matchingRgenes in engineered resistance is also discussed.     

Fiji disease resistance in sugarcane: Relationship to cultivar preference in field populations of the planthopper vector Perkinsiella saccharicida

Populations of the planthopper vector Perkinsiella saccharicida on sugarcane cultivars resistant (cvs QUO and Q87), moderately resistant (cvs Q90 and Q124) and susceptible (cvs NCo310 and Q102) to Fiji disease with known field resistance scores were monitored on the plant (2000–2001) and ratoon (2001–2002) crops. In both crops, the vector population remained very low, reaching its peak in the autumn. The vector population was significantly higher on cultivars susceptible to Fiji disease than on cultivars moderately resistant and resistant to Fiji disease. The number of P. saccharicida adults, nymphs and oviposition sites per plant increased with the increase in the Fiji disease susceptibility. The results suggest that under low vector density, cultivar preference by the planthopper vector mediates Fiji disease resistance in sugarcane. To obtain resistance ratings in the glasshouse that reflect field resistance, glasshouse‐screening trials should be conducted under both low and high vector densities, and the cultivar preference of the planthopper vector recorded along with Fiji disease incidence.     

Differences among maize cultivars in the utilization of soil nitrate and the related losses of nitrate through leaching

In a 2-year field experiment conducted on a Gleyic Luvisol in Stuttgart-Hohenheim one experimental and nine commercial maize cultivars were compared for their ability to utilize soil nitrate and to reduce related losses of nitrate through leaching. Soil nitrate was monitored periodically in CaCl₂ extracts and in suction cup water. Nitrate concentrations in suction water were generally higher than in CaCl₂ extracts. Both methods revealed that all cultivars examined were able to extract nitrate down to a soil depth of at least 120 cm (1988 season) or 150 cm (1987 season). Significant differences among the cultivars existed in nitrate depletion particularly in the subsoil. At harvest, residual nitrate in the upper 150 cm of the profile ranged from 73–110 kg N ha^–1 in 1987 and from 59–119 kg N ha^–1 in 1988. Residual nitrate was closely correlated with nitrate losses by leaching because water infiltration at 120 cm soil depth started 4 weeks after harvest (1987) or immediately after harvest (1988) and continued until early summer of the following year. The calculated amount of nitrate lost by leaching was strongly influenced by the method of calculation. During the winter of 1987/88 nitrate leaching ranged from 57–84 kg N ha^–1 (suction cups) and 40–55 kg N ha^–1 (CaCl₂ extracts), respectively. The corresponding values for the winter of 1988/89 were 47–79 and 20–39 kg N ha^–1, respectively. ei]Section editor: B E Clothier     

Soil type links microbial colonization of rice roots to methane emission

Most of the methane (CH₄) emission from rice fields is derived from plant photosynthates, which are converted to CH₄. Rice cluster I (RC-1) archaea colonizing the rhizosphere were found to be the methanogens responsible for this process. Hence, RC-1 methanogens seem to play a crucial role in emission of the greenhouse gas CH₄. We determined the community composition and activity of methanogens colonizing the roots of eight different rice cultivars after growth on both Italian rice soil and river bank soil, which contained different communities of methanogenic archaea. The community composition was analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and cloning/sequencing of the archaeal 16S rRNA gene and the mcrA gene coding for a subunit of the methyl coenzyme M reductase. When grown on rice field soil, the methanogenic community of the different rice cultivars was always dominated by RC-1 methanogens. In contrast, roots were colonized by Methanomicrobiales when grown on river bank soil, in which RC-1 methanogens were initially not detectable. Roots colonized with Methanomicrobiales compared with RC-1 exhibited lower CH₄ production and CH₄ emission rates. The results show that the type of methanogens colonizing rice roots has a potentially important impact on the global CH₄ cycle.     

Prospect of the QTL-qSB-9^Tq utilized in molecular breeding program of japonica rice against sheath blight

The major QTL-qSB-9Tq conferring partial resistance to rice (Oryza sativa L.) sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani Kühn) has been verified on chromosome 9 of the indica rice cultivar, Teqing. In this study, the prospect of this QTL utilized in molecular breeding program of japonica rice for sheath blight resistance was investigated. Most of the japonica rice cultivars showed lower level of sheath blight resistance than the indica rice cultivars. At the corresponding site of qSB-9Tq, nine typical japonica rice culfivars from different ecological regions or countries proved to possess the susceptible allele(s). Introgression of qSB-9Tq into these cultivars enhanced their resistance level by decreasing sheath blight score of 1.0 (0.5-1.3), which indicated that qSB-9Tq had a large potential in strengthening the resistance of japonica rice to sheath blight. The use of the three molecular markers, which were polymorphic between Teqing and many japonica rice cultivars, promotes the application of qSB-9Tq in a concrete molecular breeding program.     

Contribution of Pre-Anthesis Assimilates and Current Photosynthesis to Grain Yield,and their Relationships to Drought Resistance in Wheat Cultivars Grown Under Different Soil Moisture

We investigated the relative importance of pre-anthesis assimilates stored in plant parts, mainly in the stem, and post-anthesis photosynthesis to drought resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars Hongwangmai (drought resistant) and Haruhikari (drought sensitive) subjected to two soil moisture regimes: irrigated and non-irrigated. In the irrigated treatment, soil moisture was maintained near field capacity throughout the growing season, while in the non-irrigated treatment water was withheld from 81 d after sowing until maturity. Drought stress reduced grain yield of Hongwangmai and Haruhikari by 41 and 60 %, respectively. Remobilization of pre-anthesis assimilates to the grain (remobilization) was reduced by drought in Hongwangmai but increased in Haruhikari. The contribution of pre-anthesis assimilates to the grain decreased under non-irrigated treatment in Hongwangmai. However, under water stress, Hongwangmai maintained a higher net photosynthetic rate in the flag leaf than Haruhikari. These results indicated that maintenance of post-anthesis photosynthetic rate was related to drought resistance in Hongwangmai rather than to remobilization under drought stress.